Podcasts about western church

Mozarabic? Braga? Ambrosian? Catholics are familiar with the Roman Catholic Mass in its traditional form and that of the "Novus Ordo," but many do not realize the liturgical diversity that once existed throughout the Western Church.

Check out Discipleship.org for resources on disciple-making: https://discipleship.org/resources/  Today's episode will help us move from self-reliance to Spirit-empowered living by embracing daily surrender and rediscovering the power of the Holy Spirit in our walk with Jesus. Stay Informed - Get our newsletter: http://eepurl.com/hPViAr   Empowering Every Believer: Activating the Priesthood of All Believers - Disciple Maker's Podcast Ep. 7   Unlocking the Power of the Holy Spirit: A Call to Bold Witness and Total Surrender   In this impactful episode, Josh Howard and Jason dive deep into the significance of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer. They discuss the challenges modern Christians face, including the startling statistic that 98% of Christians in America never share their faith outside of their immediate families. They highlight two main problems: the lack of witnessing and the often forgotten role of the Holy Spirit in many churches. Through scriptural examples, particularly from the Book of Acts, they showcase the transformative power of the Holy Spirit and the necessity of full surrender and consecration to experience true spiritual empowerment. They argue that without daily dying to oneself and being filled afresh with the Spirit, believers cannot effectively witness or make disciples. The conversation underscores the critical need for revival and a personal challenge to be a true burnt offering for God's glory. Join them in a heartfelt prayer of surrender, and take the first steps toward becoming a vessel for the Spirit's power in your life.   Get Discipleship.org's premium Podcast Feed: https://disciplemakerspodcast.supercast.com/    Key Takeaways    00:00 Introduction and Setting the Stage 00:52 The Role of the Holy Spirit in the Church 03:01 The Power of Witnessing and the Holy Spirit 05:57 Daily Surrender and Empowerment 12:18 Living Sacrifice and Community Support 22:35 The Demands of Discipleship 23:14 The Reasonableness of Total Surrender 24:27 Living as a Burnt Offering 30:02 The Power of the Holy Spirit 32:17 A Call to Radical Transformation 37:42 Prayer of Surrender 45:00 Final Thoughts and Encouragement   Check out our Blogs: https://discipleship.org/blog/  See Below for a longer description: Podcast Recap: S3 Ep. 2 – Life in the Spirit In this episode, Jason and Josh dive into a real, honest conversation about what it means to live a life empowered by the Holy Spirit. They go back and forth between light-hearted banter and weighty truths, creating a natural rhythm that feels both grounded and inspiring. They kick things off with a laugh, joking about how hard it can be to start episodes smoothly—before easing into the heart of the conversation. The big focus? The Church's need to make more room for the Holy Spirit—not just in Sunday services, but in everyday life. Jason shares how some churches unintentionally sideline the Spirit, joking about the tendency to worship “God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Bible.” Josh jumps in to remind us that real power—boldness, witness, and transformation—comes from the Holy Spirit. They unpack Acts 1:8, where Jesus tells His followers they'll receive power when the Holy Spirit comes. Josh points out a sobering stat: 98% of American Christians never share their faith outside their family. The answer isn't trying harder—it's surrendering deeper. Josh describes how the disciples went from hiding in fear to boldly preaching the gospel after being filled with the Spirit. He draws from Romans to say the same power that raised Jesus now lives in us—meaning we're equipped for far more than we realize. A key theme in the episode is daily surrender. Josh shares a vivid metaphor: believers “leak,” so we need to keep coming back for a fresh filling. They talk about how true revival starts when we lay ourselves down—day after day—like living sacrifices. They also explore the idea that you can't have Pentecost without Calvary. In other words, the power of the Spirit comes through death to self. Drawing on Old Testament sacrifices, they paint a picture of what it means to live fully surrendered—acknowledging our tendency, like a goat, to crawl off the altar. Community plays a big role here too. Josh emphasizes how we need each other to keep living that surrendered life—through encouragement, accountability, and prayer. Toward the end, they call out how the Western Church often gets caught up in debates and performance, losing sight of the simple, powerful truth: Jesus rose, and His Spirit lives in us. They warn against letting the flesh take the lead again and call for a return to Spirit-led living. The episode wraps with lyrics from a Casting Crowns song that challenge superficial faith and call for genuine heart change. It's a fitting close to a conversation all about real transformation—from the inside out. Jason and Josh finish with a heartfelt prayer, asking for the Spirit's guidance, power, and presence to shape every part of our lives. Bottom line: If you're hungry for deeper discipleship and lasting impact, it all starts with surrender—and the Holy Spirit is ready to lead the way.

Millennial Mustard Seed PodcastWelcome to the Millennial Mustard Seed Podcast, where we dive into the unusual, unexplained, and unexplored aspects of our world—always filtered through a biblical lens. With a seeker's humility, we spark deeper conversations about faith, technology, spiritual warfare, and biblical prophecy.Subscribe on Spotify: ⁠Millennial Mustard Seed Podcast Subscription⁠Watch on YouTube: ⁠Millennial Mustard Seed Channel⁠Follow on Facebook: ⁠Millennial Mustard Seed Facebook Page⁠Guest Introduction:Laura Gallier is the acclaimed author of The Delusion series, a gripping young adult fiction series tackling themes like suicide, depression, and spiritual warfare. Laura is a sought-after speaker and is currently working to bring The Delusion to the big screen. Through her transparent journey of emotional healing and spiritual renewal, Laura's message is a powerful reminder that authenticity, not performance, is the currency of God's Kingdom.Website: LauraGallier.comSocial Media: @LauraGallierOfficialCore Topics Covered: Laura's raw and honest journey through a four-year season of debilitating depression and trauma recovery.How God leads us through the valley of the shadow of death—not around it—and why the "middle of the valley" is often where healing begins.The toxic cycle of performance-based Christianity and the invitation to authentic intimacy with God.How unresolved childhood trauma often underpins emotional and mental health struggles—and why God won't let us carry old baggage into new seasons.The role of spiritual warfare in mental health, and why holistic healing must include the body, soul, and spirit.Laura's behind-the-scenes look at writing The Delusion series and how her personal battles shaped the characters and storylines.Why the Western Church struggles with authenticity, and how to break free from a culture of performance to embrace God's true freedom.Key Quotes & Insights“The enemy is always trying to get us to prove ourselves, but the truth is—if you're in Christ, you already have nothing to prove. You are fully loved.”“You cannot cast out a broken heart, and you cannot heal a demon. You have to know the difference.”“God's correction is always wrapped in His tenderness. He doesn't rush us out of our grief; He sits with us in it.”The Delusion Series by Laura Gallier – Available on AmazonLauraGallier.com – Sign up for updates on her upcoming movie project.Related Podcast Episodes:Spiritual Mapping & Emotional Healing – Dr. Laura SangerThe Cosmic Battle for Identity – Ryan PittersonCall to Action:Be sure to subscribe to the Millennial Mustard Seed Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube at MMSeed7. Leave us a review to help spread the word about these powerful, truth-centered conversations!Want to support exclusive content and help us grow? Visit our subscription page and consider becoming a monthly partner.

In this episode, Cory and Brian explore the mDNA (Movement DNA) of missional-incarnational impulse. This mDNA has been a missing component in the Western Church for too long. We have been called not to missional activity, but to live on mission, embodying the teachings of Jesus in our communities. We include practical examples of missional living, the significance of personal calling, and the practices that shape a missional lifestyle, such as building relationships and creating spaces for community engagement. All of this conversation is rooted in a desire to see gospel flourishing in all aspects of life.

The story of how Hebrew was smuggled into the Western Church is long and complicated; it spans centuries and involves hundreds of men. In this episode, we have narrowed down the story to a handful of key figures who played pivotal roles. At many points in this timeline, Christian men could have stood up and defended the inspired Greek of the Septuagint, but essentially none did so. At any point in this timeline, Christian men could have stood up and repudiated the wicked use of the Hebrew, but only two did so — both former (converted) Jews. Satan does not have the limitation of a lifespan of but eighty or so years, and he does not sleep or grow tired; the story of Hebrew is the story of Satan's long-term plan to undermine and collapse the Western Church, and, with her, Christendom. In this second-half of the historical portion of the Septuagint series, we cover the history of the Western Church (from, roughly, Jerome to the Reformation) with regard to how Hebrew came to be used as the basis for the Old Testament. Notably, this history of the Septuagint is almost devoid of any actual use of the Septuagint by the men whose lives and actions make up the narrative, because we, like the Israelites of the Old Testament, left the Word of God sitting in a basement, abandoned and largely forgotten — and, worse, we accepted a corrupted counterfeit from rabbis and made it the basis of our translations. Mercifully and according to His promises, God preserved the Greek for us, and so we can undo the foolishness of centuries past — a topic we will take up in the last episode in this series. Show Notes See Also Further Reading “Johannes Reuchlin (1455–1522): A Unique Philosemitic Public Intellectual” “Johannes Reuchlin: A Voice of Humanism and Esoteric Wisdom” [This site is full of things we categorically recommend against — it is linked for the sole purpose of this one article on Reuchlin.] Parental Warnings At the end of the episode, Luther is quoted and the quote includes the words “whore” and “slut”.

The experience of reading Saint Isaac the Syrian is something like being caught up in a vortex; not a linear explanation of the spiritual life or spiritual practices, but rather being drawn by the Holy Spirit that blows wherever It wills. It is not as though Isaac's thought lacks cohesiveness, but rather he presents the life of faith and life in Christ to us as an artist painting with broad strokes. This is especially true in the first six homilies that speak of the discipline of virtue. Isaac seems to be more concerned about our breathing the same air as the Saints. He wants us to be swept up by our desire for God and in our gratitude for His love and mercy. Our life is not simply following a series of teachings or a moral code, but rather embodying very life of Christ. We are to love and console others as we have been loved and consoled by the Lord. If our spiritual disciplines do not remove the impediments to our capacity to be loved and to love others, then they are sorely lacking.  In every way, our lives should be a reflection of Christ and the manner that we walk along the path of our lives should be reflective of His mindset and desire. In other words, we should desire to do the will of God and to love Him above all things, including our own lives. We are to die to self and sin and have a willingness to trust in the Providence of God that leads our hearts to desire to take up the cross daily and follow him. We begin to see affliction as something that not only shapes are virtue and deepens our faith, but that is a participation in the reality of redemption. We are drawn into something that is Divine and Saint Isaac would not have us make it something common. The Cross will always be a stumbling block when gazed upon or experienced on a purely natural level. But for those who have faith, we begin to see and experience the sweetness of God's love and intimacy with him precisely through affliction. Isaac would have us know that joy in all of its fullness. --- Text of chat during the group: 00:10:51 Catherine Opie: Hi there, where are we in the text? 00:12:03 Lori Hatala: pg 122 Cover a sinner... 00:13:10 Catherine Opie: Reacted to "pg 122 Cover a sinne..." with

Send us a textFrom Saul to Paul — When God Redefines Your StoryThe remarkable transformation of Saul into Paul remains one of the greatest testimonies of divine redemption in all of Scripture. In today's powerful message, we explore how a man once known for violently persecuting Christians—a man who stood approvingly at the stoning of Stephen—became the most influential apostle in Christian history and the author of thirteen New Testament books.What does it mean when your history doesn't match your destiny? Saul's background was impressive: a Roman citizen, a Hebrew of Hebrews from the tribe of Benjamin, multilingual, and highly educated under the renowned teacher Gamaliel. Yet, despite all these advantages, Saul was spiritually blind—committed to eradicating the very faith he would one day passionately defend.The dramatic encounter on the Damascus Road didn't simply change Saul's name—it completely transformed his mission, his identity, and his legacy. Through this story, we are reminded that God does not call the qualified; He qualifies the called. No matter your past, your failures, or the labels placed upon you by others, God's mercy is greater.We also draw sobering comparisons to today's climate, where Christians in many parts of the world face fierce opposition—not always through violence, but through cultural pressure, legal battles, and societal rejection. As Stephen kept his gaze fixed on Jesus amid persecution, we are called to stand firm, even when the stones of public opinion and policy come flying.This episode also challenges the Western Church's temptation toward comfort, comparing it with the underground and persecuted Church worldwide. Many believers gather in secret, risking their lives for a glimpse of the Word of God. Their boldness and faith remind us that the true Kingdom of God advances not through buildings or wealth, but through steadfast, courageous devotion.The transformation of Saul to Paul teaches us a vital truth:Your past does not disqualify you. It prepares you.What the world labels as broken, God sees as ready. What others reject, God redeems for His glory.

In this conversation, Ezra Okoti shares his journey from Kenya to Canada, reflecting on his transformative encounter with the gospel, his call to ministry, and the cultural insights he has gained along the way. He explores the importance of community, the differences between Western and African church fellowship, and the role of the Holy Spirit in church growth. Ezra also unpacks the power of repetition in ministry, the challenges of leadership, and the rise of young adult worship movements, emphasizing the need for simplicity, authenticity, and deep connection in worship. Ezra is the Executive Pastor of Multiplication at Northview Community Church in Abbotsford, BC, where he oversees church planting partnerships across Canada and global missions. Originally from Kenya, Ezra brings years of experience in church planter assessment, preaching coaching, and leadership development. He lives in Abbotsford with his wife and four children and is passionate about seeing the gospel preached across Canada. He also serves as an advisor to City to City Canada and leads church revitalization efforts nationally.TAKEAWAYS+The Western Church deeply needs authentic community—and it has much to learn from the African Church's example.+The secret sauce in ministry is patience and repetition.+The Spirit of God is the one who transforms the heart and builds the Church.+The pastor's role is to care for people and proclaim the gospel.+Young adults are gathering to worship without the need for elaborate productions, as simplicity and authenticity in worship resonate with them.+Generational differences in worship can create challenges but also an opportunity to learn and grow together.Available wherever you get your podcasts. To learn more about Ezra and Northview Community Church, please visit https://northview.org/. To learn more about City to City Canada, please visit https://citytocity.ca/.#faith #journey #gospel #ministry #Africa #Canada #community #church #fellowship #culturalinsights #Christianlife #ministry #repetition #churchleadership #youngadults #worship #community #hope #joy #culturalchallenges #faithChapters00:00 Ezra's Journey to Faith08:09 From Kenya to Canada: A Missionary's Path15:44 The Call to Serve: Embracing Ministry in the West19:56 Cultural Reflections: Lessons from the African Church24:44 The Power of Repetition in Ministry29:07 Maintaining Hope and Joy in Leadership36:12 The Rise of Young Adult Worship41:07 Challenges of Worship Across Generations

Notes - Class notes and timelines --> https://www.generationword.com/notes/End_Times_Review/03-charts.pdfeBook "Lifeboats and Maps for the Titanic Faith of the Western Church" here --> https://www.titanicfaith.org/

In Episode 7 of Season 5, hosts Shane Pruitt, Paul Worcester, and Lacey Villasenor are joined by guest Preston Perry, an apologist, evangelist, and poet. Tune in as they discuss the importance of evangelism for the growth of the Church and how to make it a natural part of daily life. Learn practical strategies and the spiritual disciplines needed to engage in more meaningful, Spirit-led gospel conversations. Find the courage to step out in evangelism with boldness and love even when you don't have all the answers. Also in this episode: Discover the significance mentors play in training and modeling evangelism for the next generation Gain insights on why evangelism hasn't been prioritized among believers in the Western Church and how to remedy these issues Learn how the Holy Spirit equips and empowers believers to boldly speak the name of Jesus Be reminded of how essential kindness is in evangelism since the gospel message is already offensive enough to the lost Find resources on how churches can create a culture of evangelism within the church and equip members to share the gospel Helpful Resources:  How to Tell the Truth Everyday Evangelism NAMB Evangelism Kit Connect with Preston Perry: Instagram, YouTube, X, Facebook, preston-perry.com ★     Find more resources to lead the next generation on mission at https://GenSend.org ★     Subscribe to “The GenSend Podcast” on your favorite podcast platform. —————————————————————————————————————————– Shareable Quotes: “Why am I doing evangelism? Am I doing this to look intelligent, like I'm better than the next man? Am I doing this to feel good about myself or because I have a savior complex? Or am I doing this to lead somebody to the Lord? Am I doing this to win a heart?” —Preston Perry “Let's redefine the win. The win is not getting the person to pray to receive Christ on the spot. The win is just starting a spiritual conversation.” —Paul Worcester “Every heart has a cry. We must ask the right questions to hear it. A lot of times, we don’t hear the cry because we're so busy arguing. I try to ask the right questions so I can hear the cry. And then, once I hear the cry, I can serve.” —Preston Perry “Evangelism is not just going and telling people about your church. Telling people about your church is good marketing, but good evangelism is telling people about Jesus.” —Shane Pruitt “Trusting in the Holy Spirit and being led by the Lord will help us avoid arguments during spiritual conversations. I think we often get into arguments because we are trusting in our own knowledge.” —Preston Perry “We're not talking about Jesus because we're not excited about Him ourselves. The first step to evangelism is sitting at the feet of Jesus.” —Shane Pruitt

Happy Eastertime! Celebrating the Ascension of Christ and Bright Week! Keep in mind that 'Bright Week' (Eastern Church) or 'Easter Week' (Western Church) starts the fifty days of welcoming the wonderful miracle that Jesus Christ has given us! Jesus gave up his human life, an innocent man dying on the cross, allowing us God's gift of the Resurrecting of him for all humankind. A rebirth for humankind to live in him and he in us. Let the celebration continue! Christ Has Risen!   And on a solemn note during this celebration, I want to offer condolences to all my friends in the Roman Catholic Church on the passing of Pope Francis, the day after Easter of this year 2025 of the Lord.   There are links, photos and more about this on my website. Pray for this war in the Middle East to end. Also, Pray for the People of Ukraine. There are links for ways to support them on my website: NikosSteves.com   I have written a contemporary novel with Christian themes entitled "The Very Fine Light" Preview it for FREE and/or purchase "The Very Fine Light" at Amazon.com   I value feedback through the comments section on my website, NikosSteves.com Or via email at NikosSteves@gmail.com Constant Procession tells of key apparitions of the Virgin Mary since she passed on from the world and how she serves humanity through Christianity. The origin of these podcasts began with my first book, The Constant Procession. Constant Procession (the podcast) is published every Tuesday morning and has links, photos, video and more information for each episode at NikosSteves.com

Welcome to the Daily Living for Christ podcast. In this powerful episode, we introduce the ancient yet deeply relevant practice of Centering Prayer—a silent, contemplative form of prayer that opens the soul to God's presence and action within.Rooted in the early Christian contemplative tradition and reintroduced to the Western Church in the late 20th century, Centering Prayer is not a technique to achieve something from God, but a sacred way of consenting to His love, transformation, and divine will. Donald guides us through the biblical foundation of this practice, drawing from Matthew 6:6 and John 15:1-5, showing how Jesus invited us to a secret, abiding relationship with the Father through stillness and surrender.In this episode, you'll explore:✅ The origins and purpose of Centering Prayer in Christian tradition✅ The four core elements of the practice: Intention, Sacred word, Consent, and Humility✅ How silent prayer aligns with the call to “be still and know” God✅ The connection between kenosis (self-emptying) and spiritual growth✅ Practical guidance for starting Centering Prayer—including choosing a sacred word and managing distractionsWhether you are just beginning your contemplative journey or looking to go deeper in your prayer life, this episode will inspire you to create space for stillness, abide in God's love, and experience the fruitfulness that comes from spiritual attentiveness.Download this episode now, and remember to follow us so you don't miss the rest of this transformative series on sacred intention, stillness, and the contemplative path to wholeness in Christ."Have Questions, Send us a Message" This podcast is a production of The Center for Biblical Coaching and Leadership. If this episode has been useful or inspiring to you in any way, please share it with someone else. Lastly, please subscribe to the show and write a review.Visit our website, tcbcl.org, to learn more about our mission and vision.

Did Jesus spend three days in the Grave? If Jesus died on Good Friday in the late afternoon and was resurrected on Sunday, how does this accounting add up to three days? Is the Bible wrong about the three days, or are we missing something in the Western Church? This question is of personal significance to me. Tales of Glory, episode 141, is part I of a multi-episode investigation that rebuilds the timeline that Jesus and the disciples experienced during this cosmic event.Timeline:00:00:00 Intro00:01:00 Introduction - The True Timeline for the Crucifixion and Resurrection00:02:41 The Western Church Conundrum00:05:00 Explanation of the Hebrew Calendar00:09:06 Framing the Timeline00:09:46 Tuesday - 2 Days Before the Pesach - The Plot to Kill Jesus00:11:37 Jesus Anointed at Bethany00:13:41 Satan Enters Judas00:15:42 Judas to Betray Jesus00:16:10 The Passover Preparation with the Disciples00:17:22 Sundown Tuesday Marks the Start of a New Day - Wednesday00:17:41 The Passover with the Disciples00:18:42 The Institution of the Lord's Supper00:20:48 Jesus Foretells Peter's Denial00:22:15 Jesus Prays in Gethsemane (Mount of Olives)00:24:47 Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus00:27:16 Jesus Faces Annas and Caiaphas00:27:59 Peter Denies Jesus00:29:28 Jesus Mocked00:29:56 Jesus Before Caiaphas and the Council00:31:19 Sunrise on Wednesday Morning - The Day of Preparation00:31:55 A Good Place to Pause for Part I00:35:14 Conclusion

Send us a textIn this second episode of a three part series, my favorite cohost Ellen and I survey the development of the papacy from the eighth through the early eleventh century. Among the topics we discuss are who and what the Merovingian and Carolingian dynasties of Francia were; Pope Zacharias' legitimization of Pepin the Short's deposition of a puppet Merovingian king and his elevation to the throne; the "donation of Pepin" that created the papal states; the "Donation of Constantine," forged in the papal chancery to justify the donation of Pepin; the partnership between Charlemagne and the papacy in reforming the Western Church; Pope Leo III's coronation of Charlemagne as Emperor of the Romans on Christmas Day, 800; and how the papacy was reduced once again to being the local bishops of Rome under the control of the Roman aristocracy in the tenth century after the collapse of the Carolingian empire. This is the period that historians see as the nadir of the institution that featured some memorably bad popes, though we conclude with a few good ones under the Ottonian emperors.This episode includes audio snippets Musician Ernst Stolz playing the pilgrims' song,  "O Roma nobilis" on tenor vielle, recorder and gemshorn. From his YouTube channel "My Years with Early Music: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wf3_3065gmU)Gregorian Chant - Agnus Dei, posted by fgl music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YZI4cyBkvIListen on Podurama https://podurama.com Intro and exit music are by Alexander NakaradaIf you have questions, feel free to contact me at richard.abels54@gmail.com

All men have limitations — be they physical, intellectual, or something else. One such limitation is a thing we call, in the technology fields, a “context window”. In essence, a context window is the amount of relevant information that a man can hold in his mind at a given moment. In a conversation, it is the history of the conversation (along with any previous history from prior conversations, et cetera); in a relationship, it is the entire history of that relationship. In all cases, only to the extent such information can be held in the mind. Some questions call for a small context window (e.g., a bar fight may require only ten or twenty minutes of context to understand) and some questions call for a significantly larger context window (e.g., the current state of the Western Church is a matter of millennia). Not all men are equally suited to handle all matters — a man can be competent or incompetent with regard to a particular question or a particular discussion. In this preliminary episode leading into our upcoming series on the Septuagint (LXX), we discuss the concept of a context window and how it plays into the LXX specifically and many issues in our daily lives generally. Show Notes See Also Further Reading What Is a Context Window? [YouTube] Parental Warnings None.

In this NEW Special, Dr. Michael Youssef invites you to join him in the studio to talk about Jesus' words in Revelation—and how they apply to Christians in the 21st century. You'll see how God is speaking to His Church across history. See the urgent spiritual diagnosis Dr. Youssef gives the Western Church today, and heed Jesus' words of comfort, conviction, and hope in times of temptation and opposition.

Today's HeadlinesWhy staying informed is so important as interplay between the U.S. and Iran escalatesLetters and life change for incarcerated women in KenyaHow access to clean water drives global change

We are thrilled to welcome Stefan and Suzanne Von Ruti, two of our amazing mission partners. They will share their insights into what God is doing in the Western Church, especially concerning Unstoppable Faith, and its implications for us! We deeply appreciate having such an extraordinary voice from beyond our community to guide us in discerning the Spirit's direction. Fully Committed to God's Mission - Jesus came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). - God's command is always "Go!" (Matthew 28:18-20). From Comfort to Commission - Paul faced hardships but stayed committed (Galatians 2:20, 2 Corinthians 11:23-28). - Challenges shouldn't make us lose sight of the vision (Philippians 4:6-7). Reclaiming the Dream – Where Is Your Spain? - Paul longed to go to Spain (Romans 15:23-28). - Too many Christians settle for less. - America has a pioneering spirit – are you still hungry for revival? Challenge: What big dream is God calling you to? Where is your Spain?

In this NEW Special, Dr. Michael Youssef invites you to join him in the studio to talk about Jesus' words in Revelation—and how they apply to Christians in the 21st century. You'll see how God is speaking to His Church across history. See the urgent spiritual diagnosis Dr. Youssef gives the Western Church today, and heed Jesus' words of comfort, conviction, and hope in times of temptation and opposition.

In this NEW Special, Dr. Michael Youssef invites you to join him in the studio to talk about Jesus' words in Revelation—and how they apply to Christians in the 21st century. You'll see how God is speaking to His Church across history. See the urgent spiritual diagnosis Dr. Youssef gives the Western Church today, and heed Jesus' words of comfort, conviction, and hope in times of temptation and opposition.

Send us a textA few years ago, someone prophesied a warning to me about "the spirit of Schism." Schism is a funny little word rarely used in English anymore except when we think of Church history and "the great 'schism,'" or division between the Eastern Church and the Western Church. A schism is a division. Despite the warnings and our best efforts, we have taken a hit from the spirit of schism. Let me get vulnerable with you today as I ask for your prayers and share my heart concerning our difficult time.❤️ SHOW YOUR SUPPORT - LINKS BELOW...➡️ Email me: https://www.karlgessler.com/contact➡️ DONATE ➡️  Join our team!https://www.givesendgo.com/karlgesslerfamilybandhttps://www.patreon.com/karlgesslerhttps://cash.app/$KarlgesslerSocial Media➡️Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089357625739➡️Telegram - https://t.me/FaithoftheFathers➡️Truth Social - https://truthsocial.com/@UCLOvq6O4aIXLrkKxwXkq3uASupport the show

A caller named Mike from Jacksonville asks the big question: Should Catholics receive Communion on the hand or on the tongue? Here's Patrick's response... What the Church Says: -Traditionally, Communion has always been received on the tongue in the Western Church. -After Vatican II, some people started receiving on the hand as a kind of liturgical trend. At first, the Church said, “No, you shouldn’t do that.” Yet people just kept doing it, and it became so widespread that eventually, St. Pope John Paul II permitted it to avoid constant conflict. -In the Eastern Churches (e.g., Byzantine Rite, Eastern Orthodox), receiving in the hand is unthinkable. Communion is always spooned directly into the mouth, and the idea of touching the Eucharist with your hands is considered outrageous. What’s Allowed Now: -The Church officially permits receiving Communion on the hand, but the preferred method is still on the tongue. -If you choose to receive in the hand, it’s recommended to make an extra sign of reverence, like a bow or making the Sign of the Cross. -Standing is the norm in the U.S., but kneeling is also allowed if you prefer it. Why Patrick Thinks Communion on the Tongue is Better: -Hands Matter: Priests’ hands are consecrated as part of the Sacrament of Holy Orders. The rest of us? Not so much. So, there’s a reverence factor there. -Tradition Matters: For about 1,500 years, the standard practice was to receive on the tongue, kneeling if possible. Sure, there were some places in the early Church where Communion in the hand happened, but that was far from the norm. -Personal Conviction: Patrick admits he’s in the minority here, but he thinks the traditional way is better because it emphasizes reverence and respect for the Eucharist. The Bottom Line: Yes, you can receive Communion in the hand, but if you ask Patrick: on the tongue is better. He thinks most people just automatically receive on their hands because that's how they were raised.

In this NEW Special, Dr. Michael Youssef invites you to join him in the studio to talk about Jesus' words in Revelation—and how they apply to Christians in the 21st century. You'll see how God is speaking to His Church across history. See the urgent spiritual diagnosis Dr. Youssef gives the Western Church today, and heed Jesus' words of comfort, conviction, and hope in times of temptation and opposition.

In this NEW Special, Dr. Michael Youssef invites you to join him in the studio to talk about Jesus' words in Revelation—and how they apply to Christians in the 21st century. You'll see how God is speaking to His Church across history. See the urgent spiritual diagnosis Dr. Youssef gives the Western Church today, and heed Jesus' words of comfort, conviction, and hope in times of temptation and opposition.

He was born in Rome to a wealthy senatorial family. He received a good education in secular and spiritual learning, and became Prefect of Rome. While still in the world, he used his great wealth mostly for the good of the Church, building six monasteries in Sicily and another in Rome itself. At this monastery, dedicated to the Apostle Andrew, Gregory was tonsured a monk. He was appointed Archdeacon of Rome, then, in 579, Papal legate to Constantinople, where he lived for nearly seven years. He returned to Rome in 585 and was elected Pope in 590.   He is famed for his many writings, his generous charity (he gave almost all his income to the poor, and often invited the poor to share his table), and for initiating missionary work among the Anglo-Saxon peoples. The Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, celebrated on Wednesday and Friday evenings during Great Lent, was compiled by him. St Gregory introduced elements of the chanting that he had heard in Constantinople into Western Church chant: The Gregorian Chant which beautified the Western churches for many years is named for him. Its system of modes is related to the eight tones of the Eastern church. He is called 'the Dialogist' after his book The Dialogues, an account of the lives and miracles of Italian saints.   Saint Gregory reposed in peace in 604.

THE TRACKING TOWARD TRIBULATION SPECIAL OFFER! Shop Here https://www.skywatchtvstore.com/collections/new-arrivals/products/the-tracking-toward-tribulation-special-offerEach and every news cycle brings inhabitants of planet Earth closer to the Tribulation-the time Jesus called the worst of human history. Tracking toward Tribulation and the Soon Sudden Intervention by Jesus Christ is an intensively concentrated effort by fifteen of the top writers and broadcasters of our time to analyze the end-times issues and events bombarding America and the world. From the evil and wickedness developing that makes these days like those of Noah and of Lot to Israel becoming a hated nation, as prophesied by the prophet Zechariah, God's words about the end of the age are precisely on track for fulfillment.However, the authors, in thoroughly examining all things involved in the swift movement toward the establishment of Antichrist's world-controlling regime, present a glorious prospect for all who cling to the Lord Jesus Christ, the Blessed Hope of Titus 2:13. Delve into the troubling although exciting developments that are so perplexing to the world at large, but that are made understandable through dissection and exploration by these spiritually attuned authorities in Bible prophecy.All that is happening in every direction we look on the troubled horizon points only to an astonishingly spectacular truth: Jesus Christ is about to call all Christians to Himself into the clouds of glory!Support SkyWatchTV https://www.skywatchtvstore.com/collections/make-a-donationFOLLOW US!Facebook: @SkyWatchTV @SimplyHIS @EdensEssentials @DonnaHowellShowInstagram: @SkyWatchTV @SimplyHisShow @EdensEssentialsUSA @DonnaHowellShowX: @WatchSkyWatchTV @@Five_In_TenSkyWatchTV.com | SkyWatchTVStore.com | EdensEssentials.com | WhisperingPoniesRanch.com

In this episode, Madeline chats with James Ronan, a British paleontologist. During their conversation, they discuss his undergrad degree in geography, his masters in paleobiology from the University of Bristol, his work with CAFOD, what higher education looks like in his country, the sorts of things you learn about as a paleontologist, his field work in Montana, how science can lend credence to certain aspects, his fascination with hadrosaurs, being Catholic in England, advocating in an inviting way, demographic problems in the Western Church, the call to helping others, his science communication work, and so much more!During the course of their conversation, they make many references which you can explore, including episode 39 of this podcast. You can also check out James' work on his website.Feel free to like, subscribe, and share the episode! Follow us on Instagram! @sbltfpodcastDon't forget to go out there, and be a light to this world!

What happens when deep cultural roots meet the life-changing power of the Gospel? Tara Shinja knows firsthand. Raised between two distinct cultures, Tara's journey is a powerful testimony of God's transforming grace and the strength it takes to stand firm in the Christian faith.In this episode, Tara shares her family's story of radical transformation—from a mother raised in foster care yet captivated by Christ's love to her father's unexpected journey from Hinduism to Christianity, as a child who grew up between two cultures, Tara shares unique insight into the Eastern and Western churches. What You'll Hear:The challenge of living out your faith in a complex cultural landscapeHow God's truth brought clarity and freedom in the midst of confusionThe power of prayer and discipleship to impact lives and change heartsPractical tips for sharing your faith with those who are searching, including the power of persistent prayer for the lostIf you're navigating faith in a multicultural world or seeking encouragement to share the Gospel with boldness, this episode is for you. Listen now and be inspired by God's unstoppable grace!Follow us on social media:Facebook: @candidpodInstagram: @candidpodTwitter: @thecandidpodSubscribe & Share:If this episode inspired you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with others. 

Full Text of ReadingsFriday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 327The Saint of the day is Saint ColetteSaint Colette's Story Colette did not seek the limelight, but in doing God's will she certainly attracted a lot of attention. Colette was born in Corbie, France. At 21, she began to follow the Third Order Rule and became an anchoress, a woman walled into a room whose only opening was a window into a church. After four years of prayer and penance in this cell, she left it. With the approval and encouragement of the pope, she joined the Poor Clares and reintroduced the primitive Rule of St. Clare in the 17 monasteries she established. Her sisters were known for their poverty—they rejected any fixed income—and for their perpetual fast. Colette's reform movement spread to other countries and is still thriving today. Colette was canonized in 1807. Her liturgical feast is celebrated on March 6. Reflection Colette began her reform during the time of the Great Western Schism (1378-1417) when three men claimed to be pope and thus divided Western Christianity. The 15th century in general was a very difficult one for the Western Church. Abuses long neglected cost the Church dearly in the following century. Colette's reform indicated the entire Church's need to follow Christ more closely. Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

In this episode, Cory and Brian explore the paradigm shift of embracing discovery-based learning in the context of disciple-making instead of the traditional lecture-based teaching of the Western Church. Jesus is of course the model for this, but our own experiences in disciple-making are a testament to the necessity of this way of thinking. We will also explore the challenges and pushback faced when implementing discovery-based methods and address some of the concerns we regularly hear about heresy and shallowness. Our encouragement to you, if you're longing to see movement, is to embrace a discovery-based paradigm.

The Catechism introduces us to the Holy Spirit and describes how the Spirit reveals the Father and the Son to us. It also gives us some background and context regarding the way we describe the Holy Spirit in the Roman Catholic Church compared to the way that the Eastern Orthodox Church describes the Holy Spirit. Fr. Mike breaks it down for us and gives us some hope for a future reconciliation between Eastern and Western Churches. Today's readings are Catechism paragraphs 243-248. This episode has been found to be in conformity with the Catechism by the Institute on the Catechism, under the Subcommittee on the Catechism, USCCB. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/ciy Please note: The Catechism of the Catholic Church contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

Full Text of ReadingsFeast of the Presentation of the Lord Lectionary: 524The Saint of the day is Presentation of the LordThe Story of the Presentation of the Lord At the end of the fourth century, a woman named Etheria made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Her journal, discovered in 1887, gives an unprecedented glimpse of liturgical life there. Among the celebrations she describes is the Epiphany, the observance of Christ's birth, and the gala procession in honor of his Presentation in the Temple 40 days later. Under the Mosaic Law, a woman was ritually “unclean” for 40 days after childbirth, when she was to present herself to the priests and offer sacrifice—her “purification.” Contact with anyone who had brushed against mystery—birth or death—excluded a person from Jewish worship. This feast emphasizes Jesus' first appearance in the Temple more than Mary's purification. The observance spread throughout the Western Church in the fifth and sixth centuries. Because the Church in the West celebrated Jesus' birth on December 25, the Presentation was moved to February 2, 40 days after Christmas. At the beginning of the eighth century, Pope Sergius inaugurated a candlelight procession; at the end of the same century the blessing and distribution of candles which continues to this day became part of the celebration, giving the feast its popular name: Candlemas. Reflection In Luke's account, Jesus was welcomed in the temple by two elderly people, Simeon and the widow Anna. They embody Israel in their patient expectation; they acknowledge the infant Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah. Early references to the Roman feast dub it the feast of Saint Simeon, the old man who burst into a song of joy which the Church still sings at day's end. Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Psyshologist Linda Mintle talks about how we consume our news, especially when we do it too narrowly, shapes us emotionally and mentally.  She also addresses what God calls us to when we engage in our divided world with grace and kindness.  Missionary doctor Ryan Porter, author of "Gospelsick," addresses our problem of gospel deficiency in the Western Church and how it can prevent us from experiencing revival in our lives and our nation.  Faith Radio podcasts are made possible by your support. Give now: Click here  

What would you say if you knew you were dying? In this powerful final episode of our 40-week series, we share an extraordinary message from Richard, a British financial advisor facing terminal cancer, who reveals game-changing insights about money, giving, and eternal impact. You'll discover: How Western Christians are sitting on a $100 billion opportunity for kingdom impact The shocking truth about what percentage of Christian giving actually reaches global missions Why being "rich toward God" looks different than most people think How a failed actor became an unlikely expert in kingdom investing The surprising joy that comes from radical generosity What George Mueller's legacy in China teaches us about strategic giving   Key Stats That Will Challenge You: Only 2.5% - What Western Christians currently give Only 0.25% of Western Christian giving reaches outside the West $30,000/year puts you in the top 1% globally What $1 million strategically invested can accomplish: • Fund 500 evangelists for 3 years • Plant 1,000-1,500 churches • Help 10,000 women out of poverty • Translate the Bible for 20 million people • Share the gospel 100 million times in unreached nations   Resources Mentioned: Simple Money, Rich Life (Our Book): https://seedtime.com/free God Calling Devotional Organizations Referenced: • Five Talents • Jesus.net • 500K in India SeedTime Money 40-week checklist (mentioned as part of our ongoing series): https://seedtime.com/give1m BONUS: Ever dreamt of hanging out with us for 6 weeks in your small group or church? Head to https://seedtime.com/true for details or shoot us a DM on Instagram (http://instagram.com/seedtime). Watch this episode on our SeedTime Money Podcast YouTube channel (https://youtu.be/lnBFd_cSYJQ)!  

Saint Augustine of Hippo lived from 354 to 430. He was acknowledged as one of the four great Doctors of the Western Church by Pope Boniface VIII in 1298. Saint Ambrose, Saint Gregory the Great and Saint Jerome are the others.

A Sermon for the Fourth Sunday in Advent Philippians 4:4-7 & St. John 1:19-28 by William Klock The days are short and the clouds are heavy.  I was walking home for lunch yesterday and thinking that it felt more like dusk than noon.  It seemed very appropriate for Advent.  These dark and dreary days build anticipation for Christmas, for the birth of Jesus—they're very fitting.  Think of Israel two thousand years ago—in those days of Mary and Joseph, Elizabeth and Zechariah, and King Herod.  The world was dark.  The nations were enslaved to false gods and pagan kings.  Even little Israel, called to be the light of the world, lay in darkness.  The candlestick in the temple was kept lit, but the cloud of glory that had once filled the holy of holies, the very presence of God, had been absent for five-hundred years.  God's people were ruled by pagans and pretenders.  But the people knew the words of the prophets, the promises of their God.  It would not be this way forever.  That's the setting for today's Gospel, which begins at John 1:19.  Here's what John writes: This is the testimony John [the Baptist] gave when the Jews sent priests and Levites to ask him, “Who are you?”  He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Messiah.”  “What then?” they asked him, “Are you Elijah?” “I am not,” he replied.  “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.”  “Well, then who are you?” they said.  “We've got to take an answer back to those who sent us.  Who do you claim to be?”  He said, “I am ‘a voice calling in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord,' just as the prophet Isaiah said.”  (John 1:19-28) The priests were the spiritual gatekeepers of Israel and when they heard of this prophet, John, preaching and baptising, they sent their people to ask him what he was about—to see if he was legit.  People were talking about John like he was the Messiah.  You have to understand that everyone was eagerly waiting for the Messiah.  He would come to drive away the darkness and to set things to rights.  He would deal with the pagans and then sit on the throne of David to usher in a new age.  Was John the one? So they ask, “Who are you?  Who do you claim to be? Elijah?”  Some people thought Elijah would come back as Messiah, kind of like King Arthur coming back in Britain's darkest hour of need to save the nation.  Remember that Elijah never died.  He, the greatest of Israel's prophets, was carried up to heaven in a fiery chariot.  Malachi had prophesied that he would return, writing: Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.  (Malachi 4:5) But John says, “No.  I'm not Elijah.”  He hadn't come to earth in a fiery chariot.  He was the son of Zechariah the priest and his wife, Elizabeth. “Are you the prophet?” they asked.  In Deuteronomy 18 the Lord had promised that he would one day raise up a prophet like Moses, who would declare his words.  Many people thought this prophet would be the Messiah.  But again John answers, “No, I'm not the prophet either.”  We get a sense of the longing and expectation of the Jews in those dark days.  They were in an Advent season of their own.  Like a kid waking up every morning in December and asking his parents, “Is it Christmas yet?”  So the Jews waited expectantly for the Messiah to come and drive away the darkness: to vindicate their faithfulness, to end their long exile, to restore the presence of the Lord to his temple.  They knew the Lord had promised all of this long before and they knew from their own history that the Lord is faithful to fulfil his promises.  He would surely come and rescue them just as he'd rescued them from Egypt and just as he'd rescued them from Babylon.  So for five hundred years, they woke up each morning eagerly asking, “Is it today?  Will the Messiah finally come today?” John says “No”, but in Matthew and Mark, Jesus affirms that John was fulfilling the prophecy of the return of Elijah.  I think John denied these things because he knew people associated the prophecies of Elijah and the Prophet with the Messiah.  John knew he wasn't the Messiah; he was the Messiah's herald.  And so when the priests finally let him speak for himself, he quotes Isaiah 40:3, and says, “I am ‘a voice calling in the wilderness, make straight the way of the Lord.'”  In other words, John was indeed fulfilling prophecy—not as the Messiah, but as the one sent to prepare Israel to receive the Messiah. They were surprised.  People in the past had claimed to be the Messiah.  No one claimed to be his herald.  That was weird.  So they dig deeper.  Look at 25-27: They continued to question him, “So why are you baptising, if you aren't the Messiah, or Elijah, or the Prophet?” John answered them, “I'm baptising with water, but there is one sanding among you whom you do not know—someone who is to come after me.  I'm not worthy to untie his sandal straps.” Baptism was a symbol of cleansing and of ritual purity.  At this point the other gospel-writers are helpful as they expand on John's answer.  Mark tells us that John's baptism was a baptism of repentance—it was a preparatory act in light of the coming judgement the Messiah would bring.  And Matthew and Luke also report John continuing about this one who will come, this one greater than John: “He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and with fire” (Matthew 3:11, Luke 3:16).  In other words, John is calling Israel to repentance in anticipation of the Messiah, who will fulfil the Lord's promises to set Israel to rights by filling his people with his own Spirit.  The law written on stone tablets would be inscribed on the hearts of God's people so that they could finally fulfil his law of love.  But the Messiah was also coming in judgement.  He would baptise the repentant with God's own Spirit, but he would baptise unrepentant Israel with fire. These are the two sides of the gospel coin.  You can't have one without the other.  Jesus' advent, on the one hand, brought mercy to the repentant, but on the other it also brought judgement on the unrepentant within Israel.  What's important for us here, Brothers and Sisters, is that this exchange between John and the priests reminds us of the Messiah's place in Israel's story and of the faithfulness of God to his promises.  It is this manifestation of the Lord's faithfulness (and of his goodness, mercy, grace, and wisdom) to Israel—something we see brought to its climax in the birth, the death, the resurrection, and the ascension of Jesus, that has drawn us—you and I—to the God of Israel and that, by faith, has incorporated us into the people of God.  Through our union with Jesus, through our incorporation into this people, through our being made adopted sons and daughters of Abraham, you and I have come to know God's mercy and the life of the Spirit, too.  Because of the faithfulness of God, revealed in Jesus and in the power of the gospel, the darkness that Mary and Joseph, Elizabeth and Zechariah, John the Baptist and Jesus knew, that deep, deep darkness full of false gods and wicked kings and demonic power has been driven away by the light.  The light has come into the darkness, his gospel has thrown those powers down and lit up the world.  And you and I have seen—we live in—the glory of that light.  And this is where our Epistle today takes off.  Brothers and Sisters, it means something that you and I have been incorporated into the people of God.  God has a purpose and a mission for his people—for us.  This is where our Epistle takes off. Paul writes those wonderful and challenging words in Philippians 4:4: Rejoice in the Lord always; I say again, rejoice. What prompted Paul to write this?  Well, just two verses earlier, Paul exhorted two women, Euodia and Syntyche, to agree with each other.  They had once been fellow labourers with Paul, but they'd had some kind of falling out.  There's something providential in the fact that Paul doesn't give us the details, because with no details I think we all end up thinking of the fallings out we've had with our own brothers and sisters in the Lord.  This isn't just about two women in Philippi.  It's about each of us.  In response to that falling out, Paul calls the Philippian Christian to rejoice in the Lord.  Instead of a public display of disunity or resentment or anger—whatever it was that was going on between these two women, the Church was to put joy on display, to celebrate the life of God.  They were people of the light, but they were living in the dark.  It was imperative that they come back into the light.  Brothers and Sisters, the devils and the evil powers of this age want nothing more than to undermine our gospel witness in the world, to flip the switch and turn off our gospel light.  Don't let that happen.  Jesus and the gospel should overcome and drown out the darkness whenever it tries to creep into our church family.  Here's how it works.  Paul writes: Let everyone know how gentle and gracious you are.  (Philippians 4:5a) Gentle and gracious.  Paul uses the same description in 2 Corinthians 10 to describe the meekness of Jesus as a model for Christians.  This is gospel light lived out.  What Paul's getting at is that Jesus is the King, but in him we see this amazing display of gracious gentleness.  This is the gentleness we see revealed as Jesus, the one to whom heaven and earth belong, humbled himself to be born one of us, to die on the cross, and to show mercy to his enemies.  This kind of meekness or gentleness is unique to Jesus, and yet Paul stresses that as his people, as stewards of the gospel, we're called to witness this same gentleness amongst ourselves.  As it should be the resolution to so many disputes in the Church, it was the resolution to whatever had driven Euodia and Syntyche apart. Brothers and Sisters, when we demand our rights, when we grasp for power, when we nurse grudges, we undermine our gospel witness—we put on display the very darkness from which we've been delivered by the one who is light.  In contrast Paul calls us to rejoice in the Lord and to manifest Jesus-like gentleness in our relationships.  Jesus' gracious gentleness has forgiven and restored us and that same gracious gentleness ought to shine through us and through the life of the church.  Consider that every time we hold a grudge, allow a relationship to break down, or follow the world's advice to cut those problem or negative people out of our lives, we undermine the Church's witness to the world.  But that's not all. Paul goes on: The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything.  Rather in everything let your requests be made known to God, by prayer, supplication, and with thanksgiving.   There's that Advent theme again: Jesus has given us a job to do.  He's given us a gospel treasure to steward in his absence.  In the meantime, rather than being anxious, we should take our needs to God.  Jesus made the same point in the Sermon on the Mount.  The pagans worry about what they'll eat, what they'll wear, and where they'll sleep.  God's people should know better than to worry unduly about these things.  God will provide just as he always has.  He is faithful to his promises.  The story of his dealings with Israel is the proof and even more so, so is his gift of Jesus, who died and rose again to set us free from sin and death.  So go to the Lord with your needs and ask.  And while you're at it, give thanks, because you know his faithfulness and his love. This is part of the witness of the people of God—it's how we are light in the darkness—and it ties back into rejoicing.  When Paul talks about rejoicing, at least part of what he's got in mind is a public display or a public witness.  The pagan Greeks in Philippi regularly held public celebrations to honour their gods.  And yet the pagans, as Jesus said, were always anxious.  Why?  Because their gods never delivered.  Pagan religion was a non-stop game of trial and error, trying to guess what the gods wanted, trying to guess what you may have done wrong to offend them, and then guessing at what you might offer to appease their anger or to ingratiate them to you in order to get what you needed or wanted.  The pagan gods were silent and they were notoriously capricious and unreliable.  And in this context Paul exhorts the Philippian Christians: Rejoice yourselves.  Let the pagans see you celebrating the fact that the Creator of the universe has, through Jesus, made you his own and lives in your midst by his own Holy Spirit.  Let the pagans, who know only mean and capricious gods and who live in a dog-eat-dog world, let them see the gracious gentleness of God in you.  Live in such a way that they see in you the God who humbles himself to die for the sake of his enemies.  And let the pagans see you living in faith, praying in confident thankfulness to the God whose story reveals an unfailing pattern of promise and fulfilment.  Shine the light of Jesus into the darkness of the world.  And the result of all this?  Look at verse 7: And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in King Jesus.   I think we tend to look at Paul's exhortation here as something we should do in order to experience the peace of God ourselves, but given the context in Philippians, I think Paul's point is actually more about our witness.  If we truly live as stewards of the good news about Jesus, if we truly live as people who know the faithfulness of God revealed in Jesus and particularly in his death and resurrection, if we truly know the life of the Spirit, the peace of God—rather than the strife and anxiety of the world—will guard our hearts and minds in a way that will astound the pagans around us. I said last Sunday that we are called both to proclaim and to live the gospel.  This is how we live it.  Put together with our proclamation, to truly live in light of Jesus and what he reveals about God, should cause the world to stand up and take note.  This is our way of being John the Baptist in our own age.  And as it did for John, for us—if we are faithful—it will result in many giving glory to God for his faithfulness and then coming to him in faith as we have.  But it will also threaten many who are invested in the pagan and sinful systems of the world.  Brothers and Sisters, we are now the voice calling in the wilderness: “Make straight the way of the Lord!” So we need to ask: Does the world see our joy?  Are we the voice crying in the wilderness?  Are we the royal heralds the Lord has called us to be, summoning the word to let go of its false gods and to come to the Lord Jesus, calling the world away from sin and self and to come to the cross?  And we need to ask how the world is responding to us.  If we're faithfully proclaiming the good news about Jesus, if we're faithfully calling people to repent and to believe, if we're faithfully proclaiming that Jesus is Lord and that his kingdom has come—well—people will respond in one of two ways.  Either they'll believe or they'll get angry—as Herod got angry with John.  There's some of both out there in the world, but overwhelmingly, when I look at how people respond to or think of the church these days in our part of the world, it's often just indifference.  Why? Because we have not been the witnesses God calls us to be.  We have been mealy-mouthed and, quite often, just plain silent in our proclamation, because we have too often sought to please people rather than God, and because we have been half-hearted and unfaithful in our gospel living.  Like old Israel, we pray to God, but we've failed to tear down the old altars to Baal and Asherah—or Mammon or Aphrodite or Caesar.  We name Jesus, but we deal dishonestly in business, we sell our souls to the commercialism that surrounds us, we look to politics or to science as our saviours, and we dabble in the sexual immorality of the age.  We've failed to proclaim the gospel and we justify it, saying that we'll preach it with our lives.  But if we stop to ask what the world sees in our lives, is it really very different?  Does the world see us rejoicing in the Lord?  Does the world see us manifesting the gracious gentleness of Jesus?  Does the world see us living in faithful prayer and trusting in God, or does it see people just as anxious as everyone else?  Does it see enmity and strife and broken relationships or does it see a gospel people living out the healing and reconciling love of Jesus?  Does the world see the peace of God ruling our hearts and minds?  Does the world see us, holding high the gospel, as a challenge to its gods and its kings and its sins?  It should.  But sadly, I think that for the Western Church at large, the answer is often “no”. And, all too often, when we do proclaim the gospel, we do so without power or authority.  Think of John boldly declaring the coming judgement and calling Israel to repentance.  It was urgent and powerful.  In contrast we tend to hold the gospel out as good advice, rather than as the good news that it is.  Friends, the gospel is the royal summons to submit in faith to Jesus, the world's true Lord—the Lord who has come with mercy so that the repentant will escape when he comes one day in judgement.  This was the power behind John the Baptist' preaching.  But all too often we present the gospel as just another option on the religious smorgasbord—something you might want to try. See if you like it.  See if it works for you.  If not…oh well.  Brothers and Sisters, that's not the gospel.  The gospel is good news to the people living in the midst of darkness: the king who will set the world to rights has come.  And that means the gospel, when preached as it should be, will challenge and upset the Herods and Caesars of our age and all those invested in the false gods of the world. The Advent message is to be prepared.  Jesus has given us a gospel mission to take the good news of his death, his resurrection, and his lordship into the world.  Brothers and Sisters, pray that we will be faithful to our mission—faithful enough to provoke persecution, because that's the kind of faithfulness that also reaps a harvest for the kingdom.  Pray for the holy boldness of John the Baptist and the gracious gentleness of Jesus.  Pray that we will be the salt of the earth and the light of the world.  Pray that the joy of the Lord will overcome us.  Brothers and Sisters, Rejoice!  Rejoice in the Lord always.  Again, I say rejoice. Let's pray: O Lord, come among us, we pray, with your power and strengthen us with your great might; that whereas, through our sins and wickedness we are grievously hindered in running the race that is set before us, your bountiful grace and mercy may speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, to whom with you and the Holy Spirit, be honour and glory, now and for ever.  Amen.

My guest today is Phil Moore, author of the book "The Forgotten Manifesto of Jesus." Phil is a former megachurch pastor in London who went through a major shift during the pandemic. See, Phil was leading this thriving church, doing all the things we're told to do to grow a big, successful congregation. But then COVID hit, and everything changed. Why? Because Phil started asking some hard questions - is what we're doing really working? Is this the way Jesus wants us to make disciples? What Phil discovered by connecting with disciple-making movements in places like Iran and India completely upended his approach. He realized the key to mature disciples of Jesus isn't about gathering big crowds, but about empowering everyday believers to make disciples who make disciples. It's a radically decentralized, reproducible model. As Phil will share, when we rediscover the simple, revolutionary teachings of Jesus in Matthew 10 and Luke 10, it has the power to transform not just our churches, but the very way we think about the Great Commission. This is a conversation that could be a real game-changer for how discipleship works in the body of Christ. So join us as we learn how to make disciples that make disciples. Phil is an author, speaker and teacher based in London, UK. Phil came to faith as a student at Cambridge University and was trained within the Newfrontiers family of churches. He serves as a teacher, speaker, DMM leader and encourager of churches, both in the UK and beyond. He is the author of "The Bible in 100 Pages", "The Forgotten Manifesto of Jesus" and the "Straight to the Heart" series of devotional commentaries.In his latest book, "The Forgotten Manifesto of Jesus", Phil has the privilege of telling the story of underground house church movements across India, Iran, Afghanistan and the Middle East. The leaders of these movements are skilled at hiding their identities, but they were able to communicate securely with Phil so that he could pass on their amazing story of God's faithfulness to the world.Phil is married to Ruth and they have four young children. Together, they love eating strange and exotic food, as well as anything to do with campervans. They also love Roald Dahl, which makes Phil's children complain that his own books do not contain enough pictures, talking animals or chocolate factories.Phil's Book:The Forgotten Manifesto of JesusPhil's Recommendation:Spirit WalkJoin Our Patreon for Early Access and More: PatreonConnect with Joshua: jjohnson@allnations.usGo to www.shiftingculturepodcast.com to interact and donate. Every donation helps to produce more podcasts for you to enjoy.Follow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Threads at www.facebook.com/shiftingculturepodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/shiftingculturepodcast/https://twitter.com/shiftingcultur2https://www.threads.net/@shiftingculturepodcasthttps://www.yFaith Meets Academia Transform faith-based values into personal growth, career success and academic excellence.Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the show

This illustrious light of Orthodoxy in the Western Church was born in Gaul in 349, but his widowed mother took the family to Rome while he was still a small child. Brilliant and well-educated, he was made a provincial Governor in 375 and took up residence in Milan. In those days, the Arian heresy was still dividing the Church, despite its repudiation at the Council of Nicaea in 325. When the time came to elect a new Bishop in Milan, the Orthodox and Arian parties were so divided that they could come to no agreement on a new Bishop. When Ambrose came as Governor to try to restore peace and order, a young child, divinely inspired, called out "Ambrose, Bishop!" To Ambrose's amazement, the people took up the cry, and Ambrose himself was elected, though he tried to refuse, protesting that he was only a catechumen (it was still common in those days to delay Holy Baptism for fear of polluting it by sin). He even attempted to flee, but his horse brought him back to the city. Resigning himself to God's will, he was baptized and, only a week later, elevated to Bishop. Immediately, he renounced all possessions, distributed all of his money to the poor and gave his estates to the Church. Straightaway, he entered into a spirited defense of Orthodoxy in his preaching and writings to the dismay of the Arians who had supported his election. Soon he persuaded Gratian, Emperor of the West, to call the Council of Aquilea, which brought an end to Arianism in the Western Church. (Arianism, however, continued to prosper among the barbarian nations for many years; see the Martyrs of Africa, also commemorated today).   Several times the holy Bishop was called upon to defend the Church against domination by the secular powers. Once, putting down an uprising in Thessalonika, the Emperor Theodosius punished the city by ordering the massacre of thousands of its residents. When the Emperor later visited Milan and came to the Cathedral to attend the Liturgy, Saint Ambrose stopped him at the door, condemned his crime before all the people, forbade him entrance to the church and excommunicated him for eight months. The Emperor went away weeping, and submitted in humility to the Church's discipline. When he returned after long penance to be restored to Communion, he went into the sanctuary along with the clergy, as had been the custom of the Emperors since Constantine the Great. But again the holy Ambrose humbled him in the sight of all the people, saying "Get out and take your place among the laity; the purple does not make priests, but only emperors." Theodosius left without protest, took his place among the penitents, and never again attempted to enter the sanctuary of a church. (When the Emperor died, it was Bishop Ambrose who preached his funeral eulogy).   Saint Ambrose, by teaching, preaching and writing, brought countless pagans to the Faith. His most famous convert was St Augustine (June 15), who became his disciple and eventually a bishop. Ambrose's many theological and catechetical works helped greatly to spread the teaching of the Greek fathers in the Latin world. He wrote many glorious antiphonal hymns which were once some of the gems of the Latin services.   Saint Ambrose reposed in peace in 397; his relics still rest in the basilica in Milan.

⁠13 ⁠You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt lose its savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is good for nothing any more but to be cast out, and to be trodden on by men.Vos estis sal terrae. Quod si sal evanuerit, in quo salietur? ad nihilum valet ultra, nisi ut mittatur foras, et conculcetur ab hominibus. ⁠ 14 ⁠You are the light of the world. A city seated on a mountain cannot be hid.Vos estis lux mundi. Non potest civitas abscondi supra montem posita, ⁠ 15 ⁠Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but upon a candlestick, that it may shine to all that are in the house.neque accedunt lucernam, et ponunt eam sub modio, sed super candelabrum, ut luceat omnibus qui in domo sunt. ⁠ 16 ⁠So let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.Sic luceat lux vestra coram hominibus : ut videant opera vestra bona, et glorificent Patrem vestrum, qui in caelis est. ⁠ 17 ⁠Do not think that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets. I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.Nolite putare quoniam veni solvere legem, aut prophetas : non veni solvere, sed adimplere. ⁠ 18 ⁠For amen I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot, or one tittle shall not pass of the law, till all be fulfilled.Amen quippe dico vobis, donec transeat caelum et terra, jota unum aut unus apex non praeteribit a lege, donec omnia fiant. ⁠ 19 ⁠He therefore that shall break one of these least commandments, and shall so teach men, shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven. But he that shall do and teach, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.Qui ergo solverit unum de mandatis istis minimis, et docuerit sic homines, minimus vocabitur in regno caelorum : qui autem fecerit et docuerit, hic magnus vocabitur in regno caelorum. This bishop of Milan was one of the four great doctors of the Western Church. As an orator he opposed the heretics, as a writer he enriched Latin literature with his sacred Hymns. He died A.D. 397.

Judges 7:24-25   The world has always been obsessed with outward boast and human glory.  Sadly, much of the Western Church is on par with this thinking.  If a man has charisma and can hold an audience captive with stories and personal anecdotes, we make him a minister!  The pulpits up and down the length and breadth of this country are full of such men.  They look more like action men than they do God's men.  It's not what a man is on the pulpit that counts so much as what he is off it!  Character my friends is where it's at!  How a man conducts himself amid conflict says a lot about his character.  Leaders are called to be peacemakers.  Having beheld Gideon the man, in this sermon, we behold Gideon the peacemaker.  Through one man's leadership, a nation is spared from civil war. I pray the Lord ministers to your heart through Gideon's example.

Rob Kelly is the Founder & CEO of the FORCLT Network which connects pastors for personal, church, and city renewal. Rob is also co-founder of the City Leaders Collective which connects and equips city network leaders globally. In Part 2 of our Union With Christ series, you'll hear from Rob about why our union with Christ is such a misunderstood, revolutionary and often overlooked concept in scripture. This conversation reveals how union with Christ transforms identity, relationships, and our vocation. We also discuss why this conversation has often not been fully embraced in the Western Church, and some suggestions for answering the question, "how then should we live?" On Union with Christ: “When you understand your union with Christ, it changes how you even understand your salvation... When we talk about salvation, you're talking about what you're saved from, which is our sin that did ... What? Separated us from God. So if our sin separated us from God, then what did our salvation do? It united us to him. So can we not talk only about what we're saved from, but more joyfully, what we're saved into? Yes, Jesus died for our sin. Yes, our sin needed to be washed. It's through the blood of Christ the scripture says, right? This is amazing truth, that he paid the price for us that we could not pay for ourselves. Yes. But in so doing, he brought us back into the place that we were always created for in the first place, which is literally in God who is our salvation. On moving from Eden to the Eternal City: "We start in the garden with two, we end in a city with multitudes, a fully cultivated creation where we are one with God, where every tear is wiped away, everything is set back to right. Everything is not just set back toward the Edenic state, but in a more full, beautiful, shalom Edenic state, greater, that it's no longer perishable, but it will be raised imperishable. How? Because Jesus' body is made imperishable. It is because he is the new creation. "If you are in Christ, a new creation," Paul says."   RESOURCES Download the episode transcript. Rob Kelly on LinkedIn Learn more about Rob Kelly and FORCLT Metanoia: How God Radically Transforms People, Churches, and Organizations From the Inside Out by Rob Kelly Rob Kelly is the founder and lead author of the State of the City Report

Judges 7:15-23 The Western Church in this hour wants method and process.  If the Church down the road marches around the walls AND God gives them the victory, we write a book on it “How to take a city for God!”  But in the valley on the borders of Moab, God had His people dig ditches!! In the wilderness of Tekoa, the people praised the Lord! At the Red Sea, He had them stand still!  On the hilltop in Rephidim, Moses held up his hand to God! Friends, you can't make a method out of this, our eyes must be towards the LORD!!!  Oh the that God might perform a work in this hour as He did in the days of Gideon.  A work that our only boast may be in the Lord saying; by His right hand and by His holy arm has He gotten Himself the victory!

Kelly discusses the state of the Western Church with one of His Hill's Guest Lectures whose identity must be protected because of the dangers of persecution that he faces in his home country.www.instagram.com/thehishillpodcast/www.hishill.orgkelly@hishill.org

Introduction to a study of the pretribulation rapture, popular throughout the Western Church. Definitions. History.

How can we as leaders cultivate a discipleship experience that truly values perspectives from across cultures? Are we prepared to address the unique questions different generations bring to faith—and how can the Holy Spirit guide us in navigating these conversations?In this episode, Dr. Alan Yeh joins us to explore the rich distinctions between the Majority World and the Western Church, challenging us to approach discipleship with a holistic, inclusive mindset. Dr. Yeh discusses the power of integrating cultural perspectives, understanding generational questions, and creating space for the Holy Spirit's work in our communities.This conversation is an invitation to small group leaders to build environments where every voice matters, ultimately creating a more vibrant and diverse discipleship journey. Tune in to gain insights on how you can foster inclusivity and expand your approach to discipleship by embracing a truly global perspective.Take the Group Answers Survey and Enter to win the BIG giveaway HERE.

Full Text of ReadingsMemorial of Saint Gregory the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church Lectionary: 432The Saint of the day is Saint Gregory the GreatSaint Gregory the Great’s Story Gregory was the prefect of Rome before he was 30. After five years in office he resigned, founded six monasteries on his Sicilian estate, and became a Benedictine monk in his own home at Rome. Ordained a priest, Gregory became one of the pope’s seven deacons, and also served six years in the East as papal representative in Constantinople. He was recalled to become abbot, but at the age of 50 was elected pope by the clergy and people of Rome. Gregory was direct and firm. He removed unworthy priests from office, forbade taking money for many services, emptied the papal treasury to ransom prisoners of the Lombards and to care for persecuted Jews and the victims of plague and famine. He was very concerned about the conversion of England, sending 40 monks from his own monastery. He is known for his reform of the liturgy, and for strengthening respect for doctrine. Whether he was largely responsible for the revision of “Gregorian” chant is disputed. Gregory lived in a time of perpetual strife with invading Lombards and difficult relations with the East. When Rome itself was under attack, he interviewed the Lombard king. His book, Pastoral Care, on the duties and qualities of a bishop, was read for centuries after his death. He described bishops mainly as physicians whose main duties were preaching and the enforcement of discipline. In his own down-to-earth preaching, Gregory was skilled at applying the daily Gospel to the needs of his listeners. Called “the Great,” Gregory has been given a place with Augustine, Ambrose, and Jerome, as one of the four key doctors of the Western Church. An Anglican historian has written: “It is impossible to conceive what would have been the confusion, the lawlessness, the chaotic state of the Middle Ages without the medieval papacy; and of the medieval papacy, the real father is Gregory the Great.” Reflection Gregory was content to be a monk, but he willingly served the Church in other ways when asked. He sacrificed his own preferences in many ways, especially when he was called to be Bishop of Rome. Once he was called to public service, Gregory gave his considerable energies completely to this work. Gregory’s description of bishops as physicians fits in well with Pope Francis’ description of the Church as a “field hospital.” Saint Gregory the Great is the Patron Saint of: EnglandEpilepsyMusiciansTeachers Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Patrick dives deep into a complex and often misunderstood aspect of Catholic doctrine: the annulment process. One caller poses a challenging question about the validity and implications of marriage vows made before God and the authority of the Catholic Church to grant annulments. Patrick thoughtfully unpacks the nuances of ecclesiastical declarations of nullity, the binding nature of vows, and how civil law views children from annulled marriages. It's a discussion that might just change the way listeners think about marriage and the Church's role in it.   Pirso - Is insulting Mother Mary a sin against the Holy Spirit? (05:54) Joe - Today's reading - I though the Elijah couldn't go to Heaven because the gates of Heaven weren't open till the New Testament? (08:07) Gracie - My daughter is having trouble with her period and the doctor said we could try an IUD. My priest said it's ok if it's for health reasons, but I'm not sure about it. (15:20) Nick - In the Western Church, they say that Mary Magdalene and Mary of Bethany are two different people. In the Eastern Church, they say it's one person. (22:06) Joyce – Does the Church honor marriage vows? What about annulments? I thought that they would honor that and shouldn't let me get divorced (42:38)