Podcasts about what christ

And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. (Isaiah 32:2)What Christ the man is to poor sinners:1/ An hiding place .2/ A source of rivers of water in a dry place .3/ The shadow of a great rock in a weary land .

But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. (1 Corinthians 15:20)1/ The certainty of Christ's resurrection .2/ The implication of the error that some held .3/ What Christ has become - The first fruits .

What Do Chickens Have to Do with God's Plan?

Sermon by Michael Bailey on March 23, 2025.Key scripture: Galatians 3:13-14It has been said that atonement is like a multi-faceted diamond. What Christ accomplished on the cross is massive, and its window into the heart of God is grand. In this series, we study the many things Jesus' death and resurrection achieved as we prepare our hearts and minds for Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday.

Sermon by Ant Frederick on March 23, 2025.Key scripture: Galatians 3:13-14It has been said that atonement is like a multi-faceted diamond. What Christ accomplished on the cross is massive, and its window into the heart of God is grand. In this series, we study the many things Jesus' death and resurrection achieved as we prepare our hearts and minds for Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday.

Web Description: The Scriptures warn us that just as we are unaware of a thief at night, we could be unaware of the Lord's appearing. Perhaps the greatest problem we face is not the circumstances in the world but our own unawareness of God. It is imperative that we seek the Lord for a greater awareness and understanding of what He is saying and doing today.   Show Notes: A characteristic of the end-time is the unawareness on people. We see this in the flood of anti-Semitism that is moving through the world today and even sweeping through many churches. What enables the anti-Semitism is a tremendous unawareness of what God has spoken in the Scriptures, which is that He has never abandoned His people Israel, and He will fulfill every Word He has given them. The unawareness of what God is saying is where deceptions take root and where we miss the purposes of God in the earth.   God spoke through Isaiah, “Behold, I will do something new, now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it?” We have to be aware of what God is going to do today and not depend on our understanding of what God did in the past. Again we read in Isaiah, “I proclaim to you new things; … before today you have not heard them.” We may be confident that we know what to do today because we have heard what God did yesterday. But what if God proclaims something we have never heard before?   God is speaking today to our generation. But will we hear Him and will we understand what He is saying? Samuel at first did not understand what God was saying to Him. He had to learn the voice of the Lord. Samuel grew and became a prophet who knew and taught what God was speaking to Israel during his time. And Christians today need to seek the Lord until we like Samuel can hear the voice of God, understand what He is saying, and be those to show this generation the new thing God is doing now.   Key Verses:   •       Isaiah 43:18–21. “Behold, I will do something new; … will you not be aware of it?” •       Isaiah 42:8–10. “Now I declare new things; before they spring forth I proclaim them to you.” •       1 Samuel 3:2–11. “Speak, LORD, for Your servant is listening.” •       Isaiah 48:3–9. “I proclaim to you new things from this time.” •       1 Thessalonians 5:1–9. “So then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober.” •       Luke 21:29–36. “Keep on the alert at all times.” •       2 Peter 3:10. “The day of the Lord will come like a thief.” •       Revelation 3:3. “If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief.” •       Mark 13:31–33. “Take heed, keep on the alert.” •       Matthew 24:37–39. “They did not understand until the flood came and took them all away.” •       1 Corinthians 2:1–16. “A natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; … he cannot understand them.”   Quotes:   •       “If we want to be fearful of something, we should be fearful of our unawareness.” •       “What Christ represented in the earth was One who knew the Father, One who heard the voice of the Father, One who saw the Father and had the exact understanding of what God was doing. So He was able to manifest it before people.” •       “Recognize that what seems to be playing itself out in great wisdom and understanding and taking over the earth is actually functioning out of an unawareness and an inability to understand what God is doing.” •       “We're not learning about the things of this world, the things outside. We're learning the things of the Spirit so that we hear the voice of the Spirit; we hear the voice of the Lord.”   Takeaways:   1.    Being fearful and concerned about world events means our focus is wrong. Our focus should be on what God is doing inside of us and not on what is happening outside of us. What matters to God is that we understand the wisdom and mysteries that He is unfolding to enable us to walk through these days. 2.    God is going to do something new. And the concern is that we His people could miss what He is doing because of our unawareness. Within the Church today there must come a greater awareness of what God is speaking. 3.    The challenge is not to become biblical scholars but to hear the voice of the Lord. Not only do we need to hear the voice of the Lord, but we also need to understand what He is saying to us right now. We need to be His prophets through whom He can move in this age.  

There are two miraculous encounters we should expect in every meeting:

Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. (Exodus 17:6)1/ The identity of the Rock .2/ The smitten Rock .3/ What Christ is to his people because he was smitten .

What does it mean to be a man in today's society? How can God's vision for men come to fruition?  Life and marriage expert Jerry Jacobs Jr. joins the podcast today to talk about his role in reconnecting men with their God-given mission – and how it helps them protect, defend, and serve their families more effectively… In this episode, we cover: What Christ expects from a man.  Why God's natural order means something.  What the purpose of a man is. Threats that a man must protect his family from.  What the legacy of a man is.  Jerry started Catholic Alpha to serve as a resource for men around the world. Wondering how his work has shaped his audience for the better? Jump in now to find out!  To learn more about Jerry and his work, click here and here now! Boost Your Brainpower with 15% OFF!  Fuel your mind with BrainSupreme Supplements and unlock your full potential. Get 15% OFF your order now using this exclusive link: brainsupreme.co/discount/findinggenius Hurry—your brain deserves the best! Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: http://apple.co/30PvU9C

Gary Vaughan | Gratitude for Who Christ Is Spencer Doan | Gratitude for What Christ has Done Jonathan Engle | Gratitude for What Christ Will Do

Tying gospels together; Church network; Congregational free assembly; Ten-family gatherings; Social safety net; Being there for neighbors; Choosing ministers; Organized communities; Christ's commands; "Families"; Why Christ was crucified; Essence of the kingdom; Commandments; Quakers; "Feed my sheep"; What Christ was actually doing; Misconceptions of early Christianity; Elements of the Church; Kingdom government; Caring through charity; Directives of Christ; Mark 16:1; Sitting in darkness; Following the light; Herod's gorgeous robe; Jesus, king of Judea; The young man in the tomb; v8 last verse?; What the kingdom of God looks like; Nature of the network; "Deacon"; Care in reading the bible; Casting out Christians; Rightly dividing the bread; Prophesy; Not believing Jesus; Mt 19:8 hardness of hearts; Mark 3:5; How hard is your heart?; What gospel? What creature?; Micah 5:8; Doctrines of men; Network links of assistance; Saving others; Softening your heart; Baptism; The way of Christ; Signs of believers; Serpent poisons; Repentance; Calendars; New archeology; Discovering your personal connection; Seeking God's system; No shortcut to the kingdom; Changing your heart; Kissing rings; Rituals and ceremonies; "Religion"; Pharisee hypocrites; Transferring the kingdom; Saul's folly; Today's rituals and ceremonies; Mt 20:25; Mk 10:42; "Gentiles"; Seven men; Free bread systems/tables; Lk 22:25; Oppressive taxation; Socialism; Protest? Or repent?; Herod's "leaven"; Daily bread?; Wages/rewards of unrighteousness; "Mammon"; Appetites for benefits; Lk 16:9; Mt 5:19; Covetousness; Welfare snares; $36T debt; Col 3:5 Idolatry; Eph 5:5; Where your benefits come from; Beast?; Foolish virgins; Laying down your life daily; Be not afraid!

Paul sees a need to write to the believers at Colossae about the need for orderly behaviour among members in their relationships with each other and makes a particular point about husbands and wives. First we note that he states, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly” [3 v.16].  What Christ taught has to be alive in our minds.  God has controlled events so that these words written so long ago by so many different authors writing under the inspiration of his Spirit have been miraculously preserved and are now available in every language. It is different to any human book, its words must be absorbed into our thinking and as a result “dwell”, that is, ‘live' in our minds and influence the way we speak and act every day.  Paul also wrote, “Let the peace of Christ, rule in your hearts, to which you were called in one body” [v.15] The believers should aim to become “one body” as a result of Christ's words being ‘alive' in their minds so that “whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus …” [v.17] Paul next writes about husbands and wives showing that this indwelling “word” has to be reflected in home life. “Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.” [v.18,19]  This reminds us of his words to the Ephesians on this.  He wrote, “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church … Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her …” [Ch.5 v.22,23,25]  Christ set the example for husbands to follow. Let's remember where we started – that the word has to “dwell in you richly.” It is evident that if this is not happening, the relationship between husband and wife will be far from the ideal and this will affect not only themselves but also the spiritual growth of their children. Indeed, the overall spirit is summed up by Paul when he writes, “Look carefully then how you walk (in Christ), not as unwise but as wise … because the days are evil.” [v.15,16] 

What is in control of your life? Who, or what makes the decisions? What calls the shots? Is it your appetite? Desires? Plans? Hopes? Dreams….or is it Jesus? What Christ desires of us is surrender. That we would relinquish what control we think we have, over to the One who holds all things. But…it's not as easy as it sounds! So many voices vying for our attention, so many things claiming to be true…how does God's man know what to do? Join us for week two of One Changed Man, where we'll unpack the freedom we find when Jesus Christ becomes the King over our entire lives.

Organizing Churches; Alternatives to Rome's benefits; Welfare snares; Unrighteous mammon; Grain shortages; Rife for starvations; Knowing God; Saving yourself?; Laying down YOUR life; False Christs; Doctrines of Christ; Is your church established by Christ?; What Christ was doing; Networking charity; Tithing; The ways of righteousness; Squirrels?; Missing children; National ID; Corruption; Social Security Number; Gold standard?; Becoming collateral; Federal Reserve system; Walking in the spirit; What is truth?; Becoming Doers of the word; Paul's understanding; Making God's word to none effect; Who was Mark?; Nicodemus?; Eating locusts?; Modern church aid; Christ's instructions what NOT to do; Free Church?; Exodus; Freewill offerings; Militia?; Standing armies?; Soccer stories; Weakening welfare; Home schooling?; Forms of godliness; Treating children as less than animals; Legal charity - anti-Christ; Gathering together; Your salvation; Repentance; Christ's trials; Evidence of Christianity; Leaven?; Impossibility?; Excuses for not following Christ; Metaphorical locusts; Stupid laws; Blinder guides; Changing your environment; Or being changed by it; Getting the system out of you; Setting others free; Hearing God in your own heart; Seeking His kingdom and His righteousness; No comfort in foolishness; Fear not!

Ben Nussbaum, VP of Sales at OnCenter and associate director of Faith & Work Chicago, opens up about what it's really like to stay true to your faith in the ups and downs of a sales career. He talks about the struggle of selling products he wasn't fully behind and how he found a way to align his sales approach with his Christian beliefs. Ben also shares how practicing spiritual disciplines like prayer helps him stay grounded in the high-pressure world of meeting a quota and encourages leaders to create workplaces that honor the dignity of every employee. His approach to serving clients with integrity, even when it's tough, is an inspiring model for Christians in any business role. On finding stability: “That is the daily reality they live in. Either the highs are high and I think I'm awesome, or the lows are low and I think I suck. It's very hard to find equilibrium or middle ground as a disciple. And that's acually why I think the gospel is such a balm for the salesperson.” On faith in work: “What Christ has to say to us when he says, 'blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth,' that has to mean something for the way we send emails, the way we do someone's taxes, the way that we defend someone in court, the way that we script a cold call. Whatever it is, right? It's our responsibility. This is what it means to be image bearers to live out that reality or that story." On failure: "You failed. You had a crappy performance review. You didn't hit your Q3 quota, like I don't know what it is. Christ takes the failures and those who have lost much and makes something wonderful out of them. So you know, every time I miss a quota or don't hit a deadline or I didn't measure up in my job, I'm reminded that God chose what is weak to shame the strong. It is the power of God that's made perfect in my weakness. So, be weak. Be comfortable with losing. It might mean that God is ready to use you." Download the episode transcript. Follow Ben Nussbaum on LinkedIn Learn more from Faith & Work Chicago “Be comforted, small one, in your smallness. He lays no merit on you. Receive and be glad.” - CS Lewis, The Space Trilogy A Community of Hope in a World of Rage – Sermon – Ray Ortlund Praxis Labs Redemptive Entrepreneurship Model Do you like The Faith & Work Podcast? See more great resources at Denver Institute for Faith & Work or find us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn @denverinstitute 

Mark 13 highlights; Christ's return; What Christ was preaching; Moses, Abraham and Melchizedek; Freewill offerings; Conquered people; Was Jesus a socialist?; Jubilee; "Corban"?; Making the word of God to none effect; "Leaven"; Men who exercise authority; How are you taking care of the needy of your society?; Temple built without hands?; Cities of blood; Graven images; Fleshpots; Freedom from things public; Lk 22:29; Lk 12:23, John 10:10; Denying truth; Knowing history; Mark 14:1 Plotting against Jesus; Scribes?; "Religion"; Seared consciences; Where is your faith?; Killing care; Obtaining protection from God; False Christians; Precious oil?; Lk 7:37, John 12:3; "Spikenard"; Simon the leper; Nicodemus; John 19:39; King in Judea; Taking back responsibilities; Power of choice; Walking in spirit; Strengthening the poor; Sodom; Setting others free; Better Nimrods?; Charity; Jesus anointed with oil; Proclaimed king by the people; Baptized by John the Baptist; Are you spiritually following Christ?; 1 John 2:19; Memorials; Government of, for and by the people; Mk 14:10 Judas Iscariot; Helping the poor; Sanhedrin (70); Anointed king, firing moneychangers; Deciding the rightful king of Jerusalem; Giving power to a king; Bondage of Egypt; Rehoboam; Inheriting rights; Repentance; 1 John 2:19; v12 Passover; Men carrying water?; Moving in the spirit; Who to follow?; Who will betray?; Mt 26:25; Body and blood; Eating/drinking in the kingdom?; Lk 22:16; Lk 24:40; John 21:9; How taken from Pharisees?; Peter's offense; Knowing the whole gospel; "Skandalizo"; Welfare snare and trap - distrusting the way of Christ; Legal charity; Denying Christ; v26 Singing?; Strengthening the poor; Capitalism; Associations; Corporations; Song of Moses and of the Lamb; Believing fosters doing; "sore amazed" and "very heavy"; Rich people in the kingdom of God; Salvation?; "watch"; Did Christ need to be baptized?; Comforting gospel?; God's will; Watch and pray; The flesh is weak; Temptation?; Selling brothers into bondage; v46 - taking of Jesus; To be continued...

The decline of the Evangelical pulpit. Guest speaker Don Green from Truth Community Church in Cincinnati, Ohio spoke at Grace Church in Greeley, CO at our Reforming Evangelical conference.  He was asked to speak regarding:  What Christ requires of men who teach from the pulpit.  In this first half of his teaching Don explains the issues the evangelical church and pulpit are… The post Reforming the Evangelical Pulpit, 1 of 2 | Reforming Evangelicalism appeared first on Pillar of Truth Radio.

What Christ meant by I will build my church and how does he do it? Lets find out amen. Support the show

Controversy; Tasting death?; Second coming?; In the clouds?; Pride; Gospel: Seeking His kingdom and His righteousness; Clear instructions; Conforming to Christ; What Christ meant in His instructions; Holy Spirit; What is Babylon?; "City" = anguish?; "Leaven"; Going into bondage; Mark of the Beast; Cursing children with debt; Parens patria; Incorrect quotes; God's "word"; Gen 11; Rev 18; Cities of blood; Fleshpots; Biting one another; Civil law; Taking oaths?; Benefit addition; Caring for parents; Disregarding the law; Chaldean scripture; End times?; Gender confusion; Repeating history; Ger 26:15; Ez 7:23; Ez 24:6; Socialist one-purse systems of legal charity; Degeneration of society; Speaking in tongues; Government of, for and by the people; Terrible cities; Relationship with Christ; Foolish virgins; Workers of iniquity?; Job 31:3; Wickedness and sitting in darkness; Destructive spirits; Ps 5:4; ayin-resh = evil, ayin-yod-resh = city; Hebrew letter meaning; Born again; God allows freedom; Ps 6:8; Oppression of neighbor; Ps 14:2; Fear of losing benefits; Ps 28:3; Mischief; Ps 36:12; Ps 59:2; Amalaks?; Licking blood; Welfare traps; Bringing Holy Spirit into your life; Ps 141:4; Lk 13:25; Seeking His kingdom and righteousness; Mt 7:22; Error of Balaam and Nicolaitans; Jude 1:11; Spotted religion; Rev 2:14; Who's your comforter?; Covetousness is idolatry; Ez 16:49; Ex 17:16; Isa 34:17; Gathering with neighbors; Micah 2:2; Your salvation; Repentance; 2 Peter 2:3; Be willing to see with open eyes.

What Christ did for us could not have been done by any other being in all the universe. Only He is worthy of all our ... continue reading. The post The Lord's Supper – July 7, 2024 first appeared on Christian Assembly Church.

Revealing information modern churches don't; The "Word" of God; "logos" = right reason; Distorting Moses; Straightening out understanding; Bondage of Egypt; Kingdom of God; Melchizedek; "well-regulated"; Self-organization; "Militia"; Slavery; Employment; Mark: first gospel written?; Who was Mark?; Building altars of clay and stone; Republics; Social bonds; Living by faith vs force; Why people are suffering; Mark - shorted gospel - summary; Jesus the philosopher; Ten Commandments; Abundance of life; Aliens?; Uniqueness of Christ; Stories absent from Mark; "Carpenter"?; Socialists not getting the gospel; Sophistry; Sayings of Jesus; Mark 1:1 Title?; Christ the anointed; "patronus"; Son of God?; Pagan temples; Christ's "Way"; Bringing light to darkness; Caesar's welfare; John preparing the Way; Lk 3:3; John 1:23; Getting closer to God; Repentance?; Remission of sins; John's raiment; Magi?; Parthia; Offices of Caesar; Locusts = carob?; Date honey?; Caesar's baptism; "Nazareth"; Baptizing Jesus; Spiritual compelling; What Christ preached; Making Simon and Andrew fishers of men; Prominent families; Hearing the cries of your brother; Covetousness; Setting your neighbor free; Jesus' astonishing doctrines; Christ's "authority" (power of choice, free man); Self-governing; Synagogue; Tens; Teaching authority/liberty; "idiotes"; The Higher Liberty book; Unclean spirits?; "Legion"; "destroy"?; Casting out demons; Fearing the light; "torn" = drive/convulsion; Spirit of destruction; Healing Peter's mother; Possession by devils; Prayer; How did Jesus pray?; Preaching in synagogues; Humbling yourself; Moving with compassion; Vow of the Nazarite; Learning meaning and methods of Jesus Christ; Leprosy; Fear not.

Matt and Shane sit down with Fr. Dave Pivonka, President of Franciscan University of Steubenville and creator of “The Wild Goose” and “My father's Father” video series.   Through very personal and intimate stories, Fr. Dave shares: How children catch the faith through their parents' everyday witness. The unique role of fathers in preparing their children for adulthood. What it means to be a father, and what it means to be a son. What Christ reveals about our heavenly Father. What makes Christianity unique among religions.   This is the perfect episode to share with the fathers in your life and encourage them in embracing their God-given role.  

His Righteousness; Media untruths; Accepting corrections; Security in our beliefs; Our loyalty to our knowledge; Why marry?; Free bread?; Biting one another; Waiving your rights; Bondage; "qorban"; Oppression of Pharisees; Finding out what the Gospel is about; Repentance; Tree of knowledge; Forcing neighbors?; Importance of the next generation; Witnessing to the Gospel; John 16:1; Don't be offended; "skandalizo" - impeding your way; Bing put out from Synagogue; Herod's social safety net; Organized charity; "Tens"; Thinking of Christ = Word (logos); Exercising authority; Is Jesus your king?; Sharing beyond synagogue; Kingdom of God; Communism; Agreeing to bite each other?; Going back into bondage; Oppression; Sitting in the seat of Moses; Letting go of old ideas; Giving time for neighbors to accept Christ; City of God?; John 14:25; Holy Spirit teaching; What Christ believed; Welfare snares; Benefit of Christ's leaving; Gathering together; John 16:7 transferring dependence upon Holy Spirit; What makes us good/bad; Spiritual journey; Walking according to Holy Spirit; Rome in Judea; Spirit of control - fast from that; Spiritual protection; Tree of Life requires humility; Judgement by Holy Spirit; Praying for others; Fear = anger; Finding Holy Spirit for yourself; Fearing to reveal truth; "Expedient"; Resurrection and spiritual truth; Changing the course of history; John 16:22; "chara" - joy -> charity; Joy that remains; You can't change others; Ensnaring your own soul; The source of our salvation; Your private image of Jesus; Iniquities; Moses/pharaoh; Setting people free; Free assemblies: Roman Imperial cult; Not to be that way with you; Jesus' "name"; Legal system?; God can set you free!; Helping you look; Bondage of Egypt - key elements; Revelation of the Holy Spirit; Prodigal sons; Believing without signs; Helping with unbelief; "Belief"; Letting people judge you; Studying?; Doing!; Fasting from the world; Wearing your religion; Finding Tree of Life; Serving others; Be a light - not a flamethrower!

Adolph Hitler hoped and prayed that he was this antichrist that the Bible spoke of. Hitler may have been a deranged maniac; he did at least know a thing or two about what the Bible said. And as he went through Europe swallowing up nation after nation, he was convinced more and more that he would be this man.  (it's strange; he wanted to fulfill the scriptures that spoke of the antichrist's power; I wonder how he thought he would then stop the scriptures that spoke of Jesus returning and casting the antichrist into hell. but like I said, Hitler was deranged.)The book Hitler's Cross by Ewrin Lutzer: Hitler offered himself as a messiah with the divine mission to save Germany. On one occasion, he displayed the whip he often carried to demonstrate that “in driving out the Jews I remind myself of Jesus in the temple.” He declared “Just like Christ, I have a duty to my own people.” He even boasted that as Christ's birth had changed the calendar, so his victory over the Jews would be the beginning of a new age. “What Christ began,” he said, “I will complete.”Well, Hitler didn't get his wish. Not that he didn't accomplish a lot of evil. 6 million Jews murdered. 1/3 of all the Jews in the world. I've spoken on this podcast before about why the devil wants all of the Jewish people dead. And the devil is going to keep trying, whether that means working through Hitler or working through the future antichrist. Now, the Antichrist isn't going to win, either. He'll be successful in killing 2/3 of the remaining Jews during the seven-year tribulation. But he won't succeed. As he is conquesting the land of Israel during that time, he will be attacked by another nearby nation. A nation we've been studying quite a bit here lately on the podcast: Egypt. So on today's episode, you'll learn six things about the Antichrist, including hints about his nationality and his love life. You'll also learn about God's plan for Egypt in the end times.There is actually a plan for Egypt during the Great Tribulation. And the plan involves opposing the Antichrist. Have you ever heard about this before? If not, you will today on the Cross References Podcast.The Cross References Podcast with Luke Taylor: Episode 1190:00 - Hitler Wanted to Be the Antichrist2:45 - The Daniel 11 Context5:40 - His Big Mouth8:20 - His Nationality11:00 - His Love Life12:55 - His Religion15:40 - His Enemies27:50 - His Palace31:45 - Closing ThoughtsIf you want to get in touch with me, send an email to crossreferencespodcast@gmail.com

Pastor JD continues a verse-by-verse study through the book of Revelation and focuses in on what the resurrection of Jesus Christ means to us and for us. The post Resurrection Sunday Sermon, What Christ's Resurrection Means To Me, Revelation 1:4-8 – March 31st, 2024 appeared first on Calvary Chapel Kaneohe.

Lee Benson discusses and provides Biblical commentary for the readings for the Fifth Sunday of Lent, 2024. Reading selection for 5th Sunday in Lent: - (First Reading): Jer 31:31-34 - (Pslam): Ps 51:3-4, 12-13, 14-15 - (Second Reading): Heb 5:7-9 - (Gospel): Jn 12:20-33 This episode discusses, explores and examines: - Christ the Logos - The background of Letter to the Hebrews - Christ as both human and divine - The connection of suffering and discipline - What "Christ being made perfect" means -- Submit questions to BasicallyRelatedPodcast@gmail.com, and we'll answer them on the podcast! -- You can find the readings here: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031724-YearB.cfm -- Follow Me: https://linktr.ee/basicallyrelated

Christians are made alive in Christ through his death on the cross and resurrection. Because we are united to Christ and he has overcome this world, we have died to the world's ways. We do not need to meet any outside religious regulations to be right with God. We do not need additional special experiences to prove our maturity in the faith. What Christ has said about us and done for us is sufficient, and that brings great freedom.

Summary:Our Father has invested His Word in us. It is what has brought His kingdom to the earth. We stand and speak His Word and complete His creation.Show Notes:We are to speak God's Word to see His kingdom established on the earth.Christ proclaimed the Word of the kingdom in Is earthly ministry.We must hold fast to the Word that has been implanted in us.We are the habitation of God, where He wants to dwell.The Word going out is going to be hindered by who? Satan, the evil in the earth. Who wins out? The Father, the son, the sons.We become the living channels of Christ in the earth.Quotes:We are to speak the Word of the Lord, to see the Earth changed, to see the atmosphere around us change.The Word that God's bringing to the earth today, is all about His kingdom.What Christ said was just perfect. He didn't defend himself. He didn't put himself out there, He didn't justify Himself or qualify Himself. He just said it is written.Throughout His ministry, He was leading us and leaving us with a Word from the Father. I only do what I see the Father do.The only way we are defeated is by giving up that Word.When we hold fast to the Word, and we don't let it go, and we honor that Word, it will explode in us and will explode through us and will be our answer and be the answer to the earth.We're giving God a live habitation like He had when His Son was here. Isn't Christ within you the hope of glory? Isn't Christ in you speaking the Father's Word, the hope of the gospel of the kingdom going to the ends of the earth?The Word, first off, it's a revelation. It's a living being that's being imparted and has been imparted to His worshipers, to His people. It's just becoming Christ in the earth.References:Matthew 9:35And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction.Deutromity 8:1-11(God's commandments, statues, and ordinances that we keep)II Timothy 4:2(Speak the Word)Proverbs 3:5-6Trust in the Lord with all your heartand lean not on your own understanding;6 in all your ways submit to him,and he will make your paths straight.Psalm 119:11(The Word in your heart)Colossians 1:27to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.Acts 4:31(Speak the Word with boldness)Acts 27:25(I believe God)Take Away:Christ is once again speaking in the earth through His believers that have become that Word. The implanted Word of God within them is the source of destroying all of Satan's activities and creating God's kingdom on this earth.

John 14:1-7Big Idea: The Way is revealed to us as we keep our eyes on Jesus 1. Keeping your eyes on Jesus means curious questioning “The reflective Christian is one who questions what she believes while continuing to believe what she is questioning” - Roger OlsenJames 1:5-6John 15:7 2. Keeping your eyes on Jesus means communicating with your ears open.Romans 10:17Ephesians 5:15-173. Keeping your eyes on Jesus means being involved in communityHebrews 10:24-25"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." - MLK Jr.Response: • Jesus is the Way. • Jesus meets us where we're at.• What Christ has revealed is meant to be reproduced.Keep Your Eyes on Jesus Devotional:Looking for a scripture reading plan for the year, or hoping to add a devotional to your routine? We will be going through the Upside Down Kingdom series as an exploration of our theme for the year! If you'd like to join us, visit evergreenpnw.com/teaching to get started.DISCOVERY BIBLE STUDY► Passages: John 14 1-14; Jeremiah 29:11; Acts 4:12► Connection questions:1. What are you thankful for?2. What is a challenge you are facing?3. How did you do with last week's “I will” statement?► Have at least one member of the group restate the passage in their own words► Individual answers to five questions:1. What stands out to you?2. What does this passage tell us about people?3. What does this passage tell us about God?4. Based on the passage, what is one thing I could do differently starting now and what would happen if I did? (each person commits to their action for one week using an “I will…” statement)5. Who are you going to tell about what you discovered? (each person commits to having that conversation before the next meeting)

John 14:1-7Big Idea: The Way is revealed to us as we keep our eyes on Jesus 1. Keeping your eyes on Jesus means curious questioning “The reflective Christian is one who questions what she believes while continuing to believe what she is questioning” - Roger OlsenJames 1:5-6John 15:7 2. Keeping your eyes on Jesus means communicating with your ears open.Romans 10:17Ephesians 5:15-173. Keeping your eyes on Jesus means being involved in communityHebrews 10:24-25"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." - MLK Jr.Response: • Jesus is the Way. • Jesus meets us where we're at.• What Christ has revealed is meant to be reproduced.Keep Your Eyes on Jesus Devotional:Looking for a scripture reading plan for the year, or hoping to add a devotional to your routine? We will be going through the Upside Down Kingdom series as an exploration of our theme for the year! If you'd like to join us, visit evergreenpnw.com/teaching to get started.DISCOVERY BIBLE STUDY► Passages: John 14 1-14; Jeremiah 29:11; Acts 4:12► Connection questions:1. What are you thankful for?2. What is a challenge you are facing?3. How did you do with last week's “I will” statement?► Have at least one member of the group restate the passage in their own words► Individual answers to five questions:1. What stands out to you?2. What does this passage tell us about people?3. What does this passage tell us about God?4. Based on the passage, what is one thing I could do differently starting now and what would happen if I did? (each person commits to their action for one week using an “I will…” statement)5. Who are you going to tell about what you discovered? (each person commits to having that conversation before the next meeting)

Welcome to Episode 158 of the Being Human Podcast: Blessings for Same-Sex Couples? (An Invitation to go Deeper) So many Catholics have been shocked, surprised, and confused by the recently-released Vatican document in which Pope Francis responds to questions regarding the blessing of couples in “irregular” or same-sex relationships. In this episode, Dr. Greg offers a response to the issue.    Discussed in the episode:  The importance of transcending political commentary and debates and focusing instead on creating a path forward as a Church; What this current confusion can teach us;  Why this issue is actually an opportunity to bring the Church's teaching about God's plan for male and female to the forefront; The importance of deepening our understanding about the truth, beauty, and goodness of 2000 years of Catholic teaching about human sexuality; Why anything outside of God's plan for marriage between a man and a woman is against our humanity; What Christ's example of eating with tax collectors and sinners, meeting the woman at the well, and reaching down to the woman caught in adultery means; Why it's important to have compassion for those struggling with sin, while still being careful not to legitimize the behavior of a sinful relationship; Our role as thoughtful, intelligent, prayerful, and discerning Catholics; Why we need to start with ourselves and our own interior conversion to make the Church better as a whole.   Resources mentioned or relevant:  On the Pastoral Meaning of Blessings Declaration;  One Omission and Three False Dichotomies in the Vatican “Declaration” (blog post by Dr. Greg); Being Human Podcast Episodes:  Our recent Gender Series, beginning with Episode #149: A New Approach to the Gender Crisis; Episode #72: The DSM Disease (Part One of Two);  Man and Woman He Created Them: A Theology of the Body by Pope John Paul II; ;  Theology of the Body for Beginners by Christopher West;  Need help? Schedule a free consultation call with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you; Learn more about our CPMAP Certification! Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, for encouragement on your journey of becoming the best human you can be; Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop, or discover other resources we have available;  Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;  Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE's - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more! Follow us on Instagram: @catholicpsych.  Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you! Rate, review, and subscribe Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends. Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings. For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show! If you haven't already, make sure to subscribe so you don't miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!  

Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the UniverseWhat a person says at significant life moments such as at graduations and funerals matters. Those listening also expect speakers to offer something significant and even memorable. Certainly, at the side of someone's death bed we pay special attention to a person's last requests and final declarations. What Christ spoke to his disciples towards the end of his own life is now proclaimed at the end of the Church year. His words are chosen carefully. We should listen closely. What do we hear? Christ says that when we feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, comfort those who are lonely, visit prisoners, and take care of the ill and addicted, we are not simply ministering to people we may or may not know, rather we are serving Him. For what you did for the least of my brothers you did for me.Scripture Readings for November 26, 2023Ezekiel 34:11-12, 15-17Psalm 23:1-3, 5,6 1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 28Matthew 25:31-46

Saint Elizabeth wants us to give our heart to Jesus, to enter into a prayer so deep and beautiful, that we hear Him ask for it.   She invites us to hear the Word of the Father speak to our souls the way the Samaritan Woman heard Christ speak to hers.  Our Lord wants adorers “in spirit and truth.” For Saint Elizabeth, Jesus is the great Adorer, and he wants us to become what He is. When we look at how He adored the Father, we see that his prayer was not a good intention or a nice wish, but a lived reality.  What Christ offered to the Father in the silence of prayer, He gave up on the Cross for our sake.  His whole existence became an act of worship and spiritual sacrifice. The post Day 2 – St. Elizabeth of the Trinity Novena – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Series: A living Hope in a dying worldTitle: We love because we liveScripture: 1 Peter 1:22-2:3Bottom line: We love God & people because we live forever.SERMON OUTLINENOTESDISCUSSION QUESTIONSOUTLINESMAIN REFERENCES USEDSERMON OUTLINEIntroduction“He Loves Because He Lives” by David HelmsThe Vietnam War was mercifully drawing to a close during my middle-school years. And that meant that young men who had been sent over to fight were now returning to the States. Each one needed a fresh start on life. For one man that meant enrolling at Judson College. I never knew the man by name, but I regularly saw him from a distance of a hundred yards.Judson College is on the Fox River in Illinois; my dad's office in the Athletic Department was a wedge shot from its banks. I could see the river from the gym. During the frigid winter months the man stood alone along the river's frozen edge, tending a covey of ducks. He fed them. He cut through the ice to open up an area of water for them. In short, he met their every need during the cold season. Every day.I asked my dad why the man cared so much about the ducks. I will never forget the story he told: "He has just returned from the war in Vietnam. The story is that ducks saved his life. His unit had been ambushed. Many of his friends had been killed, and while he hadn't been shot, he lay down to look like he had. He hoped they would go away.But they didn't. The enemy kept coming. Through the fields they came. They'd put one more shot in every fallen man to ensure that he was dead.But suddenly a covey of ducks flew overhead, and the attention of the soldiers was diverted. In their excitement they began running after the ducks to shoot at them instead. In the end, they stopped checking the field for men and left. That's how the man down by the river escaped. And now he has a special love for ducks. He loves because he lives." The call of our text conveys something similar. —David Helms, p. 65“A sincere and earnest love, a life given over to the genuine care of others, is the natural result of being born again. To highlight the command in the text simply notice the phrase, ‘love one another earnestly.' To see why we love simply note, ‘since you have been born again.' To put the force of Peter's thought as clearly as possible: when you get a fresh start on life (see 1:3 and its connection to 1:23), love should happen (1:22-2:3).” -Helms, p. 66OutlineI. The Logic of Love 1:22-23“The mark of the Christian life is love.” -Helms, p. 66Sincere, earnest, deep = genuine (not fake)Love resulting from being born again is like when someone gets a fresh start on life, love happens. Peter's Logic of Love:Love one another deeply, from the heart…For you have been born againThrough the living and enduring word of GodJust ask Chris and Amy Karpus. His love is greater than ever because God gave him new life miraculously after cardiac arrest and being brain dead for 40+ minutes. Yet he lives. So he loves. Full testimony a little later with details:https://youtu.be/7wHiUm_sAWs?si=En53b5WdW43D0ZNtPeter essentially says, we love because we live. We live by the grace and mercy of God so we love. He first loved us so we “love others deeply, from the heart.”Peter is preaching to Christians who are a minority within a minority (Christians>Jews>Romans) who are being persecuted for it. They need encouragement and reminders of who they are and why they persevere and how they love.Have been purified (v. 22) by obeying the truth. We're cleansed/purified/forgiven by obeying God's word. That can be heard in 2 opposing ways:If you obey God's words, he will forgive you. If you obey God's words SO THAT he will forgive you, that's not a biblical way to understand salvation. If you obey God's words, he will forgive you. If you obey God's words BECAUSE he forgave you already (because you believe and trust him), that a biblical understanding of salvation.We don't have a works-salvation. A salvation that we can earn by doing good things. We have a salvation that works. A salvation that leads us to want to do good works out of gratitude for our forgiveness.Why did God do this? For many reasons. Here are 2 in our text:First, “So that you have sincere love for each other.” God's plan is for the world to see a diversity of Christ-followers love one another deeply despite their differences. “They will know you are Christians by our love.” (V. 22)Second, “For you have been born again.” (V. 23)What is “born again?”Born from above. Second birth after our physical birth. Born of the Spirit of the living God.It's the only way to enter the kingdom of God. (Cf. John 3)This birth isn't temporary (perishable seed) like physical birth.This birth is eternal (imperishable seed), the second birth.Are you born again?Peter refers to “truth,” “the word that was preached to you,” and “spiritual milk” all referring to God's word to us. His word that lasts forever.“Therefore” - whenever you see the word “therefore” you always ask the question, “What's the ‘therefore' there for?”“Therefore” is there for us to look back and remember what was just said/written. That context matters a lot.That context is summarized in v. 21 where it says, “Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.” Also, v. 3 where he tells us we have a “living hope.”Since this living hope is eternal and not temporary, we're to respond to this gracious and merciful gift by living and loving others well. (Like the man and the ducks)Therefore, we “Rid ourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.” These are not loving.In addition, we crave the word of God (truth) “Like newborn babies crave pure” milk. “Pure spiritual milk” = word of God.Milk is a rich source of several valuable nutrients, including:1. Calcium: Essential for strong bones and teeth.2. Vitamin D: Helps the body absorb and use calcium.3. Protein: Important for muscle growth and repair.4. Vitamin B12: Necessary for nerve function and the production of red blood cells.5. Riboflavin (Vitamin B2): Aids in energy metabolism.6. Phosphorus: Contributes to bone and teeth health.7. Potassium: Regulates blood pressure and fluid balance.8. Vitamin A: Important for vision and immune function.9. Magnesium: Supports muscle and nerve function.10. Zinc: Necessary for immune system health.Milk is a well-rounded source of these nutrients, making it a valuable part of a balanced diet.This causes us to grow in maturity even in the midst of trials and tribulations like these Christians were going through. Having “tasted” of the Lord's goodness and truth, we should remember the blessings that flow from growing by grace through faith in the word of God even in the midst of trials.ConclusionWe love because we live. Therefore,Go love deeply, from the heart,Get rid of your dirty ways, and Grow in your desire to know, trust and obey the word of God.Have you been born again?Have you tasted that the Lord is good?Do you crave his pure spiritual milk like a newborn baby?Do you need to repent of your sins?Then pray right now and ask him to forgive you for your sins and to cleanse you from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)Pray for him to give you a hunger and thirst for him and his words so that you can obey them out of gratitude for what he's already done for you. He's done the work for salvation. Now we get to do the work of gratitude that flows from our salvation. GoGet rid ofGrowPrayNOTESAcorns and gospel conversations about Jesus.Peter's aim in 1 Peter 1 so far is holy living in the midst of trials by these Christians.Holy living flows from being born again by the living and enduring word of God.Holy living flows to being holy by loving one another deeply, from the heart.Love like this comes from a pure heart. A heart purified by believing the good news preached to you. How are we purified?By obeying the truth. Does that mean that we obey the law so that we're purified? We obey the word trying harder and pushing out sin from our lives? No. That's the work of the flesh or “perishable seed.”Perishable seed = seed of Adam through the flesh which includes our sin nature (which is why we sin)Imperishable seed = the word of God, which is living and enduring and eternal. It's alive!Like an acorn caries within its dead shell potential life, the seed of the gospel carries with it the potential for life as well. But instead of trying to obey God's laws in our own strength (flesh), we lay down our lives and trust him by obeying his words because that trust (faith, hope) leads to life abundant and eternal.This is good news!Gospel = good news = truth = word that was preached to youWe don't obey our way into purity unless by obey you mean we obey the command of scripture to trust and follow Jesus. (John 3:16, Matthew 16:24)The way of the flesh is dead and fleeting.The way of the word is living and enduring. Arguments forBecause in v. 22 love is the overflow of this obedience to the truth. (1 John 1:9; Gal 5:6; 1 Tim 1:5)“For you have been born again” also results in obedience to the truth. (1:23-25)“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter‬ ‭4‬:‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬“So your faith and hope are in God. Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying…” v. 21-222:1-3Piper, Pt. 1 “Spiritual growth is not optional”“Therefore” - because of what he just wrote (that we're born again), through the living and enduring word of God (good news), we are a new person!Therefore, we get rid of all that isn't good in our attitudes, feelings, thoughts and actions.Action and effort are required! New born infants are not just new Christians. We're all made new forever!We are all new people, andCrave/Desire (taste) pure spiritual milk (word) like a baby desires/craves physical milkTaste (Ps 34:8)Anyone can read the word. But when you taste the goodness or kindness of God when in the word, that's evidence that you are born again.Drinking this milk causes us to grow up spiritually. I.e. sanctificationPeter thinks of salvation as future a lot in this letter. (I.e. hope to be fulfilled)It's a process: We are born again (passive; it's by God)We eat/drink the word (active) tasting his goodnessWe grow/mature spirituallyWe arrive (eventually) at full salvationEating/drinking and growing are not optional—they are evidences that you're the real dealGod keeps his own and evidence is seen in your maturingBorn again: What effect does it have on our lives?Loving one anotherGetting rid of that which hurts other peopleDrinking spiritual milk is a strategy for loving and getting rid of evilMalice (feeling) — desire to hurt people; mean-spiritedDeceit (feeling) — leading people to believe what's not true about usHypocrisy (feeling) — feeling about me; play-acting instead of being who I really amEnvy (feeling) — feelings about you and your successes; we want it but we don't want you to have itSlander (action) — frustrations are about us and you. Lack of contentment in God that leads us to say things about you that tear you down and hurt you and are untrue.Helms' notes“We love because of the imperishable nature of God's word…How exactly is sincere love the natural consequence of the living and abiding word of God?”The Logic of Love ExploredSeeds possess the power to bring new lifeSeeds possess within themselves the power to bring forth life. For ex.A perishable seed of an oak tree (an acorn), after falling to the ground and dying as a result, possesses the power to bring forth new life.The sapling emerges because all of the necessary life-giving properties were present in the seed from the beginning. So it is with God's word. Like a seed, the Bible is alive. It contains within itself everything necessary for life. Dr. Lanier at SEBTS.edu used to tell his students every semester how he came to know Christ by just reading the New Testament. The word is alive! The word brings forth life!The word of God contains within itself all the properties necessary for life. And that ought to revolutionize our understanding about the power of God's word to bring forth life.Seeds come with fullness of purposeLife isn't the only natural result of God's word. Love is as well. How is it that the gospel brings forth both life and love?Isaiah 55:10-11 It is God's purpose that when it goes out it accomplishes all that God purposes it to.And what's his purpose? That God would be known in all his fullness.God is love.Therefore, God's word gives us life and love.Therefore, within God's word, we gain Jesus Christ who is—life and love.Therefore, the logic of love rests in this: God is life, and God is love. Thus, if God sent his Word in to our hearts to give us life, then we have tasted of his fullness nad will make manifest the fruit of his character. It is for this reason Peter says:Love one another earnestly/deeplySince you have been born againThrough the living and enduring word of God.II. The Brevity of LifeIII. The Look of LoveCross references““A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”” ‭‭John‬ ‭13‬:‭34‬-‭35‬ ‭NIV‬‬“Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters.” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭13‬:‭1‬ ‭NIV‬‬“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” 1 Corinthians‬ ‭13‬:‭4‬-‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬Outline Bible (1 PETER 2)Peter speaks of renouncing, relationships, respect, and a role model.I. THE RENOUNCING (2:1-3, 11)A. What we are to renounce (2:1, 11b): We are to rid ourselves of deceit, hypocrisy, envy, slander, and worldliness.B. What we are to receive (2:2-3): We are to crave pure spiritual milk.II. THE RELATIONSHIPS (2:4-12)dedratitresA. What Christians are (2:5, 9a, 10-11a)1. We are living stones (2:5a).2. We are royal priests (2:5b).3. We are a chosen people (2:9a, 10).4. We are strangers on earth (2:11a).B. What Christ is (2:4, 6-8, 9b, 12)1. He is the living foundation (2:4a).a. He is a precious foundation for believers (2:4, 7a).b. He is a stumbling block for unbelievers (2:8).2. He is the cornerstone (2:6, 7b).3. He is the chosen one (2:4c).4. He is the judge (2:12).5. He is the light (2:9b).III. THE RESPECT (2:13-20): For the Lord's sake, we are to show respect(and submission) to the following parties:A. Civil authorities (2:13-16)B. Employers (2:18-20)C. Everyone (2:17)IV. THE ROLE MODEL (2:21-25)A. Who he is (2:21-22): He is our sinless Savior, Jesus Christ.B. What he did (2:23-24a): He died on Calvary's cross.C. Why he did it (2:24b-25)1. That his wounds might heal ours (2:24b)2. That we might turn to the Shepherd (2:25)DISCUSSION QUESTIONSDiscovery Bible Study process:Retell the story in your own words.Discovery the storyWhat does this story tell me about God?What does this story tell me about people?If this is really God's word, what changes would I have to make in my life?Who am I going to tell about this?Final Questions (optional or in place of above)What is God saying to you right now? What are you going to do about it?Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcastQ. What do I want them to know?A. We love one another deeply because we live by his mercy and grace.Q. Why do I want them to know it?A. It leads us to actually love each other deeply, from the heart.Q. What do I want them to do about it?A. Love one another deeply from the heart, rid ourselves of the evil that we're still wearing, and grow in Christ together.Q. Why do I want them to do it?A. Because it's life-giving and leads to blessing.Q. How can they begin to do this?A. Repent. Believe. Love. Live.OUTLINESThe Visual Word - 1 Peter“Paradoxes fill 1 Peter. It is a letter written to encourage a slandered and marginalized minority living in the midst of the Roman Empire. They live in the world but are not of the world. They dwell in the cities, but as sojourners. They look, speak, and dress like everyone, but they pass their days on earth as exiles waiting for their inheritance.” (See the Epistle to Diognetus 5)Peter seeks to encourage believers in Asia Minor in the midst of suffering to stand firm as they consider the blessings of being in Christ, who is the primary example of one who suffered well and now has received glory and honor. If they also continue in their good conduct, become the true household of God, and don't revert to their old idolatrous practices, they too will receive the crown of life. They need to have hope as exiles (1:3-2:10), live faithfully as exiles in the world (2:11-4:11), and stand firm until the end (4:12-5:11). Their ultimate enemy, that roaring lion, stands ready to devour them, but they have the conquering, suffering Shepherd at their side. (P. Schreiner)Hope as Exiles 1-2Elect Exiles 1:1-2New future 1:3-12New family 1:13-2:10Exile Identity 2-4Submit 2:11-3:7Suffer well 3:8-4:11Stand Firm 4-5Suffer joyfully 4:12-19Resist the devil 5:1-11In Babylon 5:12-14I. They need to have hope as exiles (1:3-2:10)II. They need to live faithfully as exiles in the world (2:11-4:11)III. They need to stand firm until the end (4:12-5:11)“Their ultimate enemy, that roaring lion, stands ready to devour them, but they have the conquering, suffering Shepherd at their side.” - P SchreinerHope as Exiles - The church has hope amidst trials because of their new future and new family. (1-2)Elect exiles (1:1-2)New future - Their new birth grants them an inheritance that can never be taken away. (1:3-12)New family (and new calling) - Their new birth grants them the rights and responsibilities of God's people. (1:13-2:10)Exile Identity - In the midst of the world, they are to live as chosen exiles. (2-4)Submit - They are to submit to authority figures because this is how Christ acted. (2:11-3:7)Suffer well - Like Christ, they are to suffer for good because suffering leads to life. (3:8-4:11)Stand Firm - To keep their exile identity, they must stand firm to the end. (4-5)Suffer joyfully - They are to entrust themselves to God while doing good. (4:12-4:19)Resist the devil - The elders should shepherd the people, recognizing the danger they are in. (5:1-11)In Babylon (5:12-24)Elect Exiles (1:1-2)“Peter presents the paradox in the first two verses. The God, those in Asia Minor are chosen, but to the world, they are exiles and sojourners. This becomes the theme of the letter (1:17; 2:11; 5:13). It also ties their story to Abraham, who was chosen but also a sojourner on the earth (Gen. 15:13), and Israel, who were God's wandering people. These elect exiles are dispersed across Asia Minor and living in societies not friendly to the new Christian faith. They are elect exiles according to God's foreknowledge, but His sanctifying works, and chosen for obedience. This is God's wonderful plan for their lives.”Hope as Exiles (1-2)“After labeling them as elect exiles, Peter's first section bolsters their hope by praising God for their new future, new family and new calling. Those scattered have been born again and promised a new land. But this new hope cannot be taken away from them because it resides in heaven. Though they suffer now, they a re being guarded for this future (1:3-12). Not only do they have a new future but a new family and calling (1:3-2:10). They are the new exodus people, the new covenant people, and the new temple people. In all of these they have not only a new identity but a new vocation.”According to the New Testament of the Bible, what is the difference between faith and hope?“In the New Testament of the Bible, faith and hope are distinct but interconnected concepts. Faith is often described as a firm belief or trust in something, particularly in God or His promises. It involves having confidence in what is unseen or yet to be fulfilled. Hope, on the other hand, is the optimistic expectation or anticipation of something good. It involves looking forward to future blessings, both in this life and the next. While faith is focused on belief and trust, hope is centered around expectation and anticipation. Faith provides the foundation for a relationship with God and is essential for salvation, while hope sustains believers through trials and challenges, keeping their focus on the promises of God. Both faith and hope are important aspects of the Christian life, working together to inspire and strengthen believers in their journey of following Christ.” -ChatGPT SUMMARY SO FAR1 Peter, “Live Such Good Lives”Let's live such good lives in this world today that, though they think we're wrong, they'll see how we live and follow Jesus anyway because…They'll see who we are and that's we're different. A new identity: As chosen exiles scattered around the world until Jesus returns+ (1:13-2:10)ChosenExiles/Holy people in the wildernessNew people New covenant with GodNew temple/a peopleKingdom of priestsWhat else?They'll see us living for what matters even though it costs us. Suffering as a witness to Jesus multiplying and magnifying his kingdom (2:11-4:11)They'll see us willingly suffer because of our living hope in the future. Suffering in light of an unshakable hope in the future. (4:12-5:9)From Schreiner:“To encourage believers to persevere in their suffering as exiles and strangers because of their future eternal reward in Christ.”“Called to suffer (like Jesus) but suffering characterized by hope.”“Their lives would demonstrate that they belonged to another king and another kingdom.”Schreiner is thankful to God who has reminded him through 1, 2 Peter, & Jude of our “Unshakable hope in Christ, Of the grace poured out on his people, and Of the call to live holy and beautiful lives for the glory of his name.”Though “spiritual exiles” “recipients of a great salvation” “gave them a future hope and inheritance” “They were homeless spiritually, but they were also bound for a home and an inheritance from which they would never be displaced.”“As believers, most lived on the underside of society—under:the authority of RomeUnbelieving and cruel mastersUnbelieving husbandsFrom Helms:“Theme of Christian identity and conduct in light of a settled hope.”3 biblical correctives for why and how to respond to life's difficulties.God's plan for his followers: “We are (therefore, live as) the elect (chosen) exiles of the dispersion (scattering).”Peter's inversion theme: “the way up comes by going down.”Suffering always proceeds glory. Christ exemplified this.So, Peter calls these scattered Christians to live as God's chosen exiles/strangers/foreigners/sojourners with unshakable hope because of you great salvation through Jesus Christ. (My summary)Questions answered by Peter:How are Christians supposed to bear witness to Christ's glory?How are we to live in the wilderness world?Peter's answers to these questions center on the word “conduct” or “live” and it's various forms.THE BIBLE PROJECTI. Greeting (1:1-2)II. Song of praise (1:3-12)III. A New Family Identity (1:13-2:10)IV. Suffering as a Witness to Jesus (2:11-4:11)V. Suffering & Future Hope (4:12-5:9)We have a new family identity that propels us to bear witness to a living hope that leads us to live such good lives that we willingly suffer for his glory in light of our glorious future.We have a new family identity & future hope that compels us to live such a good life that it demands a gospel explanation.We have a new family identity & future hope that compels us to live like no one else because we will live like no one else in the future We have a new family identity & future hope that compels us to live a life that includes suffering but that leads to glory—for God and us.HELMSLife is hard even for Christians.3 biblical correctives for why and how to respond to life's difficulties.God's plan for his followers: “We are (therefore, live as) the elect (chosen) exiles of the dispersion (scattering).”So, Peter calls these scattered Christians to live as God's chosen exiles/strangers/foreigners/sojourners with unshakable hope because of you great salvation through Jesus Christ. (My summary)Peter's inversion theme: “the way up comes by going down.”Suffering always proceeds glory. Christ exemplified this.“Peter begins his letter with these 2 seemingly incompatible truths:Our status in Christ ANDOur sufferings on earth.”Questions answered by Peter:How are Christians supposed to bear witness to Christ's glory?How are we to live in the wilderness world?Peter's answers to these questions center on the word “conduct” or “live” and it's various forms.Be holy (1:15)live out (1:17)Way of life (1:18)Live such good lives (2:12)Behavior (3:1)Your lives (3:2)Behavior (3:16)“Theme of Christian identity and conduct in light of a settled hope.”Turning point 2:11-12Peter continues to encourage through examples and exhortation.He appeals specifically to elders before the community.“God has Established our salvation,Given us our identity,Conformed our present-day calling,Secured our future inheritance by means of an inverted irony—namely, the death, resurrection and ascension of Christ. Therefore, just as the exaltation of Jesus followed a season of humiliation, so too our share in his eternal glory will appear after we have learned to follow in his true and gracious ways.”Subtitle? How to live as God's fireproof children in this dumpster fire world.“We are the elect exiles of the dispersion.”As God's chosen, I am encouraged and reminded of his great love for me. And I need this as I live in this broken world.Elect = chosen, those whom God lovesIsrael was sent into exile by God because of their presumptuous sin. Exiles of a different sort? Peter doesn't mean it wrt Israel's ancient sin—or their own—for they were living faithful and fruitful lives at this time. Peter means this is simply “the normative state of any follower of Jesus, so long as he or she remains in this world.”CS Lewis quote, p. 26SchreinerOUTLINE OF 1 PETER1 Opening (1:1-2)2 Called to Salvation as Exiles (1:3-2:10)3 Living as Exiles to Bring Glory to God in a Hostile World (2:11-4:11)4 Persevering as Exiles in Suffering (4:12-5:11)5 Concluding Words (5:12-14)1 Opening (1:1-2)2 Called to Salvation as Exiles (1:3-2:10)2.1 Praise for Salvation (1:3-12)2.2 The Future Inheritance as an Incentive to Holiness (1:13-2.3 Living as the New People of God (1:22-2:10)3 Living as Exiles to Bring Glory to God in a Hostile World (2:11-4:11)3.1 The Christian Life as a Battle and Witness (2:11-12)3.2 Testifying to the Gospel in the Social Order (2:13-3:12)3.3 Responding in a Godly Way to Suffering (3:13-4:11)4 Persevering as Exiles in Suffering (4:12-5:11)4.1 Suffer Joyfully in Accord with God's Will (4:12-19)4.2 Exhortations to Elders and the Community (5:1-11)5 Concluding Words (5:12-14)SECTION OUTLINE2 Called to Salvation as Exiles (1:3-2:10)2.1 Praise for Salvation (1:3-12)2.1.1 A Promised Inheritance (1:3-5)2.1.2 Result: Joy in Suffering (1:6-9)2.1.3 The Privilege of Revelation (1:10-12)2.2 The Future Inheritance as an Incentive to Holiness (1:13-21)2.2.1 Setting One's Hope on the Inheritance (1:13-16)2.2.2 A Call to Fear (1:17-21)2.3 Living as the New People of God (1:22-2:10)2.3.1 A Call to Love (1:22-25)2.3.2 Longing for the Pure Milk (2:1-3)2.3.3 The Living Stone and Living Stones (2:4-10)Schreiner is thankful to God who has reminded him through 1, 2 Peter, & Jude of our “Unshakable hope in Christ, Of the grace poured out on his people, and Of the call to live holy and beautiful lives for the glory of his name.”1 Peter “sets forth what it means to be Christians in a hostile world, in a world where Christians were persecuted for their faith…”Though “spiritual exiles” “recipients of a great salvation” “gave them a future hope and inheritance” “They were homeless spiritually, but they were also bound for a home and an inheritance from which they would never be displaced.”“As believers, most lived on the underside of society—under:the authority of RomeUnbelieving and cruel mastersUnbelieving husbandsThey suffered both in:Every day lifeFrom imperial authority”IDENTITY“People of God” “The Lord's new temple” “priests”“They are exhorted not to live in fear of human beings but in fear of the Lord, and such fear, paradoxically, would give them confidence and hope.”“Called to suffer (like Jesus) but suffering characterized by hope.”“Obedient children”“Their lives would demonstrate that they belonged to another king and another kingdom.”“God's chose race” “royal priesthood” “holy nation”PURPOSE“To encourage believers to persevere in their suffering as exiles and strangers because of their future eternal reward in Christ. They demonstrate their hope in this future by standing firm despite injustice and persecution by living holy, blameless lives submitting to their authorities with patient endurance. This shows their belief that this is temporary and that they are citizens of another kingdom and see Jesus as their Lord and king.MAIN REFERENCES USED“1 - 2 Peter and Jude,” by David Helm, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent Hughes“1 & 2 Peter ” by RC Sproul“1 & 2 Peter and Jude” by Thomas Schreiner“The Message of 1 Peter” by Edmund Clowney“Look at the Book” by John Piper, https://www.desiringgod.org/labs/we-cannot-love-without-hope “The Visual Word,” Patrick Schreiner“1 Peter: A living hope in Christ”, Jen Wilkin Bible study“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)Outline Bible, D Willmington NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.org“The Bible in One Year 2023 with Nicky Gumbel” bible reading plan on YouVersion appChatGPT https://openai.com/blog/chatgptAnswerThePublic.comWikipedia.com

Ezra and Exodus; Tree of knowledge vs Tree of life; Your opinion does not change God; Hiding from God; Denying responsibility; Knowing thyself; Bondage of Egypt; Reducing the value of money; Trajan's persecution of Christians; Explaining Christianity; What the Torah says; Interpreting Abraham and Moses; Centralizing the Temple; Charity; Lovers of soft things; Cyrus's release; Religion; Duties to God; Moses' government; Ezra's mission; Man's errors; Your generations; World vs Christians; Private Religion; Free bread of Rome/Babylon/Egypt; Law of Nature; Hearing the cries of your brothers; Robbing widows and orphans; Repentance; Nazis?; "Cylinders"; How good was Cyrus?; Legalizing The Church; Ignatius of Antioch; Governing ourselves; Connecting dots; Republics; Democracies; What Christ said; Christian Roman Soldiers; Attacking delusion; Urim and Thummim = stones?; Ex 28:30; Ezra 2:63; Revealing the word of God; Eucharist; Impure Religion; Wave offering; World government religion; Coercive church; Word meanings; Living network of charity; Biting your neighbor; What you should do; Commandments; Honoring father and mother; Urim aleph-vav-resh-yod-mem = lights; Thummim tav-mem-yod-mem = perfection; Priest seeing truth?; John the Baptist; Investigating what you've been told; Kings and high priests; Sanhedrin; Corruption; Lawmakers; Executive orders; What made America great; Gabbi and Molchi; Ministers without authority; Peculiar people; Freewill vs force; Servant government; Returning to Jerusalem; Leaven; Altars; Conversation; Good news; Guarding against corruption; Constantine's church; Kings in the home; Good news of hard times; Set the captive free.

Derrick and Jason discuss the end of Revelation 17, and they talk about the allure of the world and how it can be overcome in Christ. What Christ offers to us is infinitely better than anything the world may hold out to us.

Today is the Feast Day of the Transfiguration. What Christ accomplished on the Cross made it possible for every soul to experience a true transfiguration, a metamorphosis of personhood. The Transfiguration marked both the revelation of Christ as the Word of God to man in all of His glory as well as showing forth mankind's truly created identity. When we see the Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ, we see the return of every soul to what we would have become in Paradise had the fall of man never happened. By the Cross, our Lord released us from captivity so that we could be led in an ascension to worship and experience God on the mountain. It is in that experience of Christ our God on the mountain that the darkness within us rolls away and we are refashioned in His image and likeness.

You may be the only Bible our neighbors ever read. You know and I know “there is no way to love Christ and not love his church.” But they don't know that. We want people to love Christ. What Christ are they seeing in you and me? Christians are called to live “a life that needs God's love to explain itself.” So be winsome to win some.The sermon today is titled "Having Favor With All." It is the twelfth installment in our "Community" Series. The Scripture reading is from Acts 2:47 (ESV). Originally preached at the West Side Church of Christ (Searcy, AR) on July 9, 2023. All lessons fit under one of 5 broad categories: Begin, Discover, Grow, Learn, and Serve. This sermon is filed under DISCOVER: A New Community.Click here if you would like to watch the sermon or read a transcript.Footnotes (Sources and References Used In Today's Podcast):Beauty is a $1 Billion industry. Josh Howard, "The Ultimate List of Beauty Industry Stats (2023)," March 23, 2023. For direct stats, see, for example, here.Stories told at the door about Christians. Rubel Shelly & John York, The Jesus Community: A Theology of Relational Faith (Siloam Springs, AR: Leafwood, 2004), p. 21.Rating Christians. Pew Center Research Report. "How Americans Feel About Religious Groups." July 16, 2014.3% of young outsiders. David Kinnamn and Gabe Lyons, UnChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks about Christianity...and Why It Matters (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 2007), pp. 24-25. Found in Philip Yancey, Vanishing Grace (2014).[Athenagoras], Epistle to Diognetus, in Early Christian Writings (London: Penguin, 1968), pp. 244-45.J. W. McGarvey, New Commentary on Acts of the Apostles (repr., Gospel Light Publishing Co., 1950), p. 49.I'd love to connect with you!Watch sermons and find transcripts at nathanguy.com.Follow along each Sunday through YouTube livestream and find a study guide and even kids notes on the sermon notes page.Follow me @nathanpguy (facebook/instagram/twitter)Subscribe to my email newsletter on substack.

[Remember Nineveh] Kingdom - someone ruling over somebody; Deciding good and evil for you; DC riots; "Walkaway" movement; Deplatforming; Rampant censoring; Build back better; George Floyd's death; Media regime; People want to be angry = playing into hands of evil; Fighting for power; Building what Christ commanded; Range sheep vs farm flock sheep; Defaming demonstrators; What Christ said to DO; Early Church history; Most common form of self-government; Viable republics in the heart of the world; Staying connected to each other; Maintaining your right to choose; Big tech censorship; Emotional vs rational; Judge not, hate not; Why evil is winning; Forgiveness the key to freedom; Jacobites; Are you listening to Christ's spirit? Or your emotions?; Still small (nonemotional) voice; Actual story of loaves and fishes; Creating bonds that connect you; Contracts, covenants and constitutions; Honesty is a kingdom policy; Why you're vulnerable; Remember Nineveh; "Their" government; Another king, one Jesus; Perfect law of liberty; Choice in the hands of the individual; Losing the battle of righteousness; Explaining the law of God; Overcoming wrong turns with humility; Prov 2:6; Power in truth, not paper; "Peace and safety"; "What do we do?"; The greatest destroyers of liberty; 2 Chron 7:14; Are you living the character of Christ?; Rom 12:2; Benefactors of righteousness; Church history; Militia; Christs commands for organizing; Thwarting today's corruption; Limiting your communication; Where's God sending you?; Electing Caesars?; What evil wants; Stop restricting your neighbor's right to choose; 25th amendment; Getting organized; Becoming wise as serpents; Renewing your mind; A role for all of "us"; Widow's mite; A minister's job; Double standards; 1 Sam 8 relevance; Consummating your fornication; God will not hear you. [A Kingdom Out of This World] Facebook purge; Walkaway movement; Snowden's sins; Order followers; Campaign finance reform in Oregon; Accepting lies; Wolves creeping in; The gospel puzzle; Loving to give life; Capitol invasion; Hearing both sides; Election tampering?; George Floyd perspective; Trump's alleged incitement; Governmental corruption; Courting evil; Who's investigating?; Creating fear and confusion; Demonic evil; Receiving the Holy Spirit; Double standards; Equality Act of 2019; Gender dysphoria; Withholding condemnation; Legislating morality?; Catering to delusion; Rationalization; COVID vaccine; Why emptying prisons?; The asylum state; Emotion vs reason; Fearing the Holy Spirit; Early Church mission; Nero's fire; Evil can't kill real Christians; Church exclusion.

Paul is in the middle of giving a defense for himself in before King Agrippa II, Bernice and Festus. The reason for this hearing was so that Festus could document the charges against Paul for his appeals case before Nero. During his defense, Paul spoke about the heavenly vision that he had on the road to Damascus. What Christ revealed to him that day and the days following had radically revolutionized Paul's life. In fact, over two decades later and Paul still motivated by it. As we consider our own lives, what vision do we have for our lives and is it from our Lord?

Pastor JD talks about the paramount importance of Christ's resurrection and the profound implications of what it truly means to and for us, then celebrates Communion at the conclusion. The post What Christ's Resurrection Means To Me, Sunday, April 9th, 2023 – 1 Corinthians 15:12-20 appeared first on Calvary Chapel Kaneohe.

Thursday of Holy Week (Holy Thursday) c. 33 A.D. Triduum; Liturgical Color: WhiteNo last will and testament has been as heeded as Christ'sFrom the moment Christ first uttered the words at the Last Supper on Holy Thursday evening, the Church has never ceased to be faithful to them: “Do this in memory of me.” These words of a man about to die, if not a dying man, were a commandment more than a request, marching orders more than a mission statement. And everyone in that upper room understood exactly what He meant. No last will and testament of any man has ever been as faithfully fulfilled as these last words of Christ. What Christ ordered to be done has been done, and continues to be done, every day, throughout the world, by every single priest who stands at an altar and recites the words of consecration in persona Christi.The world has never moved on from Christ and never will. He is not in the world's rear-view mirror. He is here, He is present, He is alive. And in every tight corner of the globe, from a tidy Polish village to a rambling Filipino city, from a Palestinian monastery hugging a sun-baked cliff to an Argentinian parish in a sprawling suburb, the Mass makes Him real because it is done in memory of Him. Literally every minute of every day, Mass is celebrated across the globe in a ceaseless offering to God the Father. “From the rising of the sun to its setting,” in a thousand tongues, priests bend slightly over their chalices and the white linens covering their altars and carefully repeat a chain of words in a cadence known to all the faithful: “Take this, all of you, and eat of it…Take this all of you, and drink from it…This is my Body…This is my Blood.” No words are more familiar. None! Not Shakespeare's, not Caesar's, not Lincoln's. The everlasting words of the cross-cultural and cross-generational Christ simply have no equal.If we expect from the Church the sacraments, we will never be disappointed. If we receive from the Church more than the sacraments, we should rejoice. The Last Supper fulfills and completes the Jewish Passover sacrifice ordered by God of Moses and the Jews in Egypt. The Last Supper, at the same time, prefigures in an unbloody way the physical sacrifice Christ would make on the morrow on the hill of Calvary. In the Last Supper, Christ also gives priests the perennial form for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. The Last Supper, then, is a composite act of Jewish and Christian ritual, of Old and New Testament theology, of historical and spiritual realities all packed into one dense liturgical act which the Church presents anew at every Mass. The Mass is the Christian work of art par excellence. It is the public act which never stops showing. It is the magnet which pulls mankind through the doors of thousands of churches every morning, noon, and night.We do this in memory of Him because God deserves worship as a matter of justice, not charity. We do this in memory of Him because He ordered us to do so. We do this in memory of Him because it prefigures what we will hopefully do in heaven for eternity. And we do this in memory of Him for a thousand million reasons locked in the quiet places of a thousand million hearts: For Jill to come back home. So that Robert survives the war. In thanksgiving for a good husband. So that a pain in the gut not be what it might be. In gratitude for the rain that saved the crops. At a king's crowning, a convict's death, or the bond of marriage. For the shocked just after the martyrs' mangled bodies were dragged out of the arena over the blood-stained sand. In thanksgiving because my father did not die of cancer, and in remembrance of my cousin who did. For the fireman who couldn't find his way out of the building, for the barren woman, for the anniversary of an aged couple, or for the nation on its birthday. There is no end of reasons.Month after month, year after year, century after century, until the sands of time run out, the voice of the Lord on Holy Thursday echoes over the waters and down the halls of time: “Do this in memory of me.” *Lord Jesus Christ, Your total physical gift of self on Good Friday began internally at the Last Supper. May the faithful often profit from Your priestly ministry by receiving Your body and blood consecrated on Your sacred altars by those who share in Your one priesthood.*See “The Shape of the Liturgy” by Dom Gregory Dix for a similar reflection on the Holy Eucharist.

What does it mean to be a man in today's society? How can God's vision for men come to fruition?  Life and marriage expert Jerry Jacobs Jr. joins the podcast today to talk about his role in reconnecting men with their God-given mission – and how it helps them protect, defend, and serve their families more effectively… In this episode, we cover: What Christ expects from a man.  Why God's natural order means something.  What the purpose of a man is. Threats that a man must protect his family from.  What the legacy of a man is.  Jerry started Catholic Alpha to serve as a resource for men around the world. Wondering how his work has shaped his audience for the better? Jump in now to find out!  To learn more about Jerry and his work, click here and here now! Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: http://apple.co/30PvU9C

The sisters of Lazarus sent word to Jesus, saying, “Master, the one you love is ill.” When Jesus heard this he said, “This illness is not to end in death, but is for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that he was ill, he remained for two days in the place where he was. Then after this he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.” When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him; but Mary sat at home. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise.” Martha said, “I know he will rise, in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.” He became perturbed and deeply troubled, and said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Sir, come and see.” And Jesus wept. So the Jews said, “See how he loved him.” But some of them said, “Could not the one who opened the eyes of the blind man have done something so that this man would not have died?” So Jesus, perturbed again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay across it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the dead man's sister, said to him, “Lord, by now there will be a stench; he has been dead for four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believe you will see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. And Jesus raised his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you for hearing me. I know that you always hear me; but because of the crowd here I have said this, that they may believe that you sent me.” And when he had said this, He cried out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, tied hand and foot with burial bands, and his face was wrapped in a cloth. So Jesus said to them, “Untie him and let him go.” Now many of the Jews who had come to Mary and seen what he had done began to believe in him. John 11:3–7, 17, 20–27, 33b–45   The Raising of Lazarus Today, we celebrate the third and final scrutiny in preparation for the baptism of the elect at the Easter Vigil. In the exorcism for today, the priest asks God to “snatch us from the realm of death” and to free the elect from “the death-dealing power of the spirit of evil” (RCIA, 175). We are only saved from the evil of death when we are baptized into Christ's death and resurrection (see Romans 6:4-6) In today's Gospel, we see a display of God's power over death. Lazarus was only a sign of what was to come for us—that is, when we die, we won't stay dead. Lazarus's resuscitation has given each member hope that God can reach into death, our greatest enemy, and defeat it. Ultimately, Christ's death and resurrection secured humanity's hope that death would not have the final word for us. What Christ did for us on Calvary and in the tomb is still being worked out with each generation. It will come to completion when the world is brought to its apex in the second coming of Christ and the final judgment. Each person, you and I, have to prepare for this final coming by hosting the life, death, and resurrection of Christ in his own body and soul. Christ has to be alive in us so that the evil one will not pull us into eternal death. We secure this life of Christ through trusting and believing in all that he has revealed and taught in scripture, participating in the celebration of the Eucharist, and emulating the saints. May we consistently repeat the words of Martha, “Lord, I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.” Christ's voice reached into Lazarus's dead body and awoke it. We can only hope that we are hearing this same voice while we are still alive. We must choose Christ now. Jesus is crying out into all our souls with the same message that awakened Lazarus: “[C]ome out!” Come out of darkness, ignorance, and sin; come into his light and life. In your time of silent prayer today, ask that all baptized men and women and all who are preparing for baptism might “triumph over the bitter fate of death” (RCIA, 174) by choosing Christ this day and every day to come.  

Episode Synopsis Could some of America's most iconic structures be hiding a sinister secret – that they were designed using occult knowledge with some even serving as satanic beacons to the rest of the world? We talk about this and much more, including: What's the connection between Lucist Trust and the U.N.? What “Christ” is the U.N. praying to? Was the Statue of Liberty really a gift? Is Lady Liberty really a lady? What “Spirit of America” is being represented on Liberty Island? We might not be secret but we are building a society. Tune in this week and join the ORP community! Original Air Date February 22, 2023 Show Hosts Jason Spears & Christopher Dean Our Patreon Consider joining our Patreon Squad to help support the show and get access to exclusive content like: Links and Resources Studio Notes A Monthly Zoom with Jason and Christopher And More… Connect With Us LetsTalk@ORPpodcast.com Facebook Instagram

1 John 4:1-6Rev. Erik Veerman2/19/2023The Spirit of Truth vs. the Spirit of the AgePreambleThe Scripture reading for our sermon is from 1 John 4. We'll be looking at verses 1-6. You can find that on page 1212 in the Bibles.One difference between the first half of 1 John and the second half of 1 John is its focus. In the first couple of chapters, John gave us foundational truths about Jesus and what true faith looks like. A big part of that was testing our own lives and beliefs.Well, the second half has been about applying those truths in our lives and the church. That's what our verses this morning do. And they intersect two themes already covered: (1) our beliefs about Jesus and (2) the influence from the world. The difference is, rather than asking us to test our own beliefs and lives, the apostle John reveals how to test what's being taught in the church. Is the teaching from the Holy Spirit and true, or is the teaching from the world and false? We're talking about core matters of faith.Now, you may remember. At the end of chapter 2 when we looked at the doctrine test, I made you a promise. I said when we get to these verses in chapter 4, I would get specific on worldly philosophies that are infiltrating the church today. We'll consider those in the second half of today's sermon.Let's now come to God's Word.Please stand as you are able. Several of you have been memorizing this chapter, so let's read it together. Feel free to look on or try saying it by memory.As a reminder, this is God's inspired and authoritative Word given to us.1 John 4:1-6 - togetherPrayerBrushing your teeth is bad for your health. Think about it. Every time you brush, you are wearing down the enamel that protects your teeth and nerves. Furthermore, toothpaste is toxic to your teeth. Fluoride is a corrosive chemical. Not only are you subjecting it to your teeth, but you are introducing it into your body. Brushing your teeth is merely a marketing scheme by big pharma.In 1961, Dr. William McGuire conducted a study on persuasion. His topic was brushing your teeth. His goal was to see how easily we are deceived and how to prevent it. One of his study groups had no warning. Someone came in and began to argue against brushing your teeth. By the end, people felt sheltered by their families and duped by society. This group couldn't believe they used to think brushing your teeth was good.Another group of people were prepared beforehand. They were given positives for brushing your teeth and they were told of possible arguments against brushing your teeth. Later when someone argued against brushing, this group was able to discern truth from error.That's what the apostle John is doing here. He's teaching his church how to know what's true and how to know what's false. Yes, he's addressing false teaching that had already infiltrated the church, but he also wants them to be prepared for the future. That's my goal for this morning. To give you principles from this text to discern core matters of truth from error. And to analyze our current cultural moment and some worldly philosophies that have infiltrated the church.Before we get there, we have to understand what John is saying and why he is saying it.As I read, you probably noticed that word “spirit.” It's used 8 times in these 6 verses. Two of the times it's referring to the Holy Spirit. Capital “S” spirit. The Holy Spirit is one of the persons of the Trinity – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the one whom God the Father gives us, through Christ, who testifies to the truth and brings comfort and conviction. He's called in Scripture the Spirit of Truth. That's what he's called here along with the Spirit of God. He's called elsewhere the Spirit of Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Helper, and the Comforter.In contrast, in these verses, is the spirit of error. Lowercase “s.” It's not referring to any specific person. Rather, it's referring to teaching that claims to be from God. The sense we get is that false teachers were going around claiming to have a word from the spirit. But in reality, they were teaching falsehood. Now, put yourselves in the shoes of John's audience. They had heard contradictory teaching. Both sides claiming to be from the Holy Spirit. How were they to know what was true and what was false? That is why John is using the language “testing the spirits.” Testing to see whether the teaching is from the Holy Spirit or whether the teaching is from the spirit of error. It's not from God, but rather it's from the “world.” That's another word that is used multiple times in these verses. The word “world.” Six times in these 6 verses, especially in verses 4 and 5.In fact, the word “world” is one of the apostle John's favorite words. But he uses it in different ways! Let me give you a couple of examples. In the Gospel of John chapter 1:10, John writes “He [Jesus] was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.” There are two uses right there. Jesus was in the world, meaning earth. The world was made through him, very similar - world meaning all of God creation. But then it says, yet the “world” did not know him. There, he's referring to the people in the world.Or as a contrast, take John 3:16 and 17. A very well-known passage. It begins, “for God so loved the world that he gave his only son.” In that context, John is using the word “world” to mean the people in the world whom God loves. Verse 17 confirms that. It continues “For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” There, John is talking about people who would believe in Jesus. In other verses, it's quite the opposite. He talks about judging the world and the rulers of the world who will be cast out. In those cases, it's the world's systems and beliefs, which are opposed to God in Christ. So, you see, the word “world” is a utility word for John.Here in these verses, the word “world” is that last definition. It's the things which are contrary to God. Idols, beliefs, systems, desires, philosophies. Look at verse 5 for example: “They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them.” Let me rephrase verse 5 into, “they are from the world's corrupt systems and ideologies. Therefore they speak from those worldly philosophies and beliefs, and the people in the world who do not know God, listen to them.”So, to summarize: There's truth from the Spirit of truth versus error from the spirit of the age – the world. And John tells them, here's how you discern which is which.Now, I know, all the parents here want me to say “Brushing your teeth is healthy.” It is! And flossing too, by the way. I just made up some ridiculous arguments against it. But, did some of you wonder for a moment? We are, after all, a susceptible people.Kids, throughout your life you will have to discern what people are saying and teaching. And we're not talking about secondary matters. It's not about brushing your teeth. No, John is talking about core matters of faith and life. You will need to be like the Bereans. In Acts 17, it says they received what the apostles were teaching, but it says they did so “examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.” You will need to do that throughout your life, and these verses give you some guidance.Ok. What was the issue at hand? What was John dealing with? Well, we're told. Right there in verses 2 and 3. “every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist.”The problem was, there were people in the church who denied Jesus' humanity. Saying that he did not come in the flesh. Or maybe that Jesus was not the Christ – not the promised one. Again, we're talking people in the church in John's day.And we've already talked about where some of those false beliefs came from. Remember, in John's day, Gnosticism was on the rise. This worldly philosophy separated the spiritual realm from the material real. Proponents believed their goal was to achieve a heightened spirituality and enlightenment – kind of like an out of body experience. Everything material, including our flesh was corrupted and evil. This worldly thinking was the new kid on the block at the turn of the first century. And it was cool to think about and believe in these things. As you can imagine, that worldly philosophy began to infiltrate the church. And think of the consequences. For those that bought in to this gnostic belief, if matter was corrupted and evil, then they couldn't imagine that Jesus came in the flesh. If he did, he would have been corrupted (again, according to them)! Do you see that connection? How this false worldly philosophy had crept in and struck at the essential doctrine of the incarnation?(God becoming flesh) As a result, they denied Jesus humanity or that Christ had even come.And John says, “no! this belief is not from the Spirit. It is a lie. The Holy Spirit only testifies to the truth of what we, the apostles, taught. And the foundation is that Jesus Christ has come, and he's come in the flesh.” Matter and the flesh is, in fact, not evil.We live in a very different context. In John's day, the canon of the New Testament was yet to be established. The creeds on the Trinity that unified the church were yet to be written. For us, broadly speaking in the church, there is unity surrounding the person of Jesus – his humanity and divinity.No, in our day, in the church, the winds of secular philosophy blow in different way into the church. But they do the same thing. They strike at the core principles of faith – maybe not Jesus' humanity or divinity, but they oppose Christ and salvation in other ways. Look down at verse 3. Notice what John says there, “every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist.” Opposed to Christ. John is saying, we test beliefs and teaching in the church by evaluating whether they are antichrist. The teaching is against Christ if it distorts or denies (1) the person of Jesus (again, that's what John was dealing with), (2) sin and the need for salvation in him alone, (3) God's nature and character, or (4) the life we are called to live. John has written about each of those. Again, if any teaching in the church distorts or denies any of those, it fails John's test. That is how you will know the Spirit of Truth vs. the Spirit of the Age.So then, what worldly philosophies today have crept into the church and are seeking to strike at the vitals of the Christian faith?Here we go. Now, You may feel uneasy with some of the things I am going to say. We can talk more later.Let me start with an easy one.About 100 years ago the church was dealing with the winds of modernism. The ideas coming from the Enlightenment that centered on man - that man is the measure of all things. And furthermore, that there's nothing outside of the universe - it's all a matter of chance. It took a while for that worldly philosophy to infiltrate the church, but when it did some teaching in the church began to question the physical resurrection of Jesus, question the virgin birth, and question miracles in general. Really, it questioned the supernatural within the natural world. This denial of God's supernatural work contradicts Scripture and strikes at the vitals of salvation and Christ. It is the spirit of error.Now, modernism hasn't gone away, but it's current impact on the church has waned.Ok, let's take another one – a little closer to home.In post World War 2, there has been a boom of consumerism. Our culture has an almost insatiable appetite for things and entertainment. We live in a world where we click a button and stuff shows up on our doorstep the next day. Security is found in money. Identity is found in what you own. The right doctor can heal almost anything. Broadly as a culture, we long for money, things, and comfort. This philosophy has affected the church by distorting the hope of the Gospel. What Christ has done for us is to reconcile us to God and to give us hope beyond the grave – eternal life. But in certain circles of the visible church, that hope is focused on this life. Some teachers will say, “God wants you to materially prosper in this life.” They say the confirmation of a Godly life is your heath and the ways in which you prosper now. Brothers and sisters, that distorts the Gospel. It minimizes the suffering of Christ and our comfort in him when we suffer. There's often very little eternal hope spoken of in this social or prosperity gospel. It also minimizes sin. It is not the Gospel.To be sure, I'm not advocating minimalism nor a rejection of medicine. But this teaching has turned good things into ultimate things. It is a spirit of error.Ok, let me take the next two together.Recently I read an article titled: “What Would Francis Schaeffer Say to Today's Evangelical Church?” Shaeffer was a Christian philosopher and Presbyterian pastor in the middle of last century. He was masterful at analyzing the culture and the culture's impact on the church. I've referred to Schaeffer before. Now, it's risky to surmise what someone would say after they're gone, but I thought the article was well done. It was written by a Schaeffer scholar. The author had worked at the L'Abri study center with the Schaeffers who started it. And this author had started a new L'Abri in England. So he was very qualified.In Schaeffer's day, postmodernism was the cool kid on the block. Postmodernism questions truth itself. It pushes an agenda that says your truth is your truth, but it's not my truth. In response, Schaeffer hammered home the church's the need to stand for the objective truth of God's Word and the objective guilt of every man before our holy God. That message still needs to be trumpeted today. There's still a postmodern relativistic mindset in the world. It has watered down the Scriptures and is a spirit of error.So, that's one thing, postmodernism. But today, the bigger ideological impact on the church is experientialism. Relativity has moved from the realm of truth in the mind to our experiences and feelings. And we see that all around us. Our culture says, “if it feels good, do it” or “follow your heart” or “be true to yourself.” The problem is, this expressive individualism denies sin. However, it, in fact, is sin – it's the sin of pride and self-idolatry. It rejects the very thing that it is - sin. When the winds of this cultural ideology bleed into the church, God's law is relativized and sin is minimalized. It strips away the core of and need for salvation. It is the spirit of the antichrist.So, then, what would Francis Schaeffer say today? I think the author is right that Schaeffer “would,” he says, “call [us] to stand for the Truth of Scripture, to not compromise with the current thought of the day, and to proclaim Christ alone as the way, the truth and the life... [and] that everything is not relative, that God's laws are good and life-giving.”So, modernism, consumerism, postmodernism, and experiential or expressive individualism – any of these worldly philosophies will compromise the Gospel message of hope in Christ alone. They therefore fail 1 John 4's test.I have two more philosophies to highlight.In our nation, we live with the sins and scars of racism. The pain of our history of slavery and segregation continues today, and racism certainly continues. I'm using that word racism to mean partiality and prejudice against someone else based on the color of their skin, or their cultural, ethnic, or national heritage. The answer to that sin is ultimately the Gospel. Ephesians 2 speaks of true reconciliation in Christ. It says, “For he himself [Jesus] is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two.”The ultimate hope of reconciliation and peace is found in Christ alone. And the pattern in Scripture is love for God and love for our neighbor which includes repentance and forgiveness.The answer to the sin of racism is not found in the secular ideology of critical theory, or to use the popular term, critical race theory. The reason I bring it up is because there continues to be a movement in the church to adopt some of its tenants. However, it replaces sin with sin, oppression with oppression, and racism with racism. It has no concept of forgiveness or reconciliation, no understanding of guilt or redemption. None of its solutions to racism remotely resemble the Gospel or hope in Christ, but rather perpetuate sin. This is the spirit of error.I'm not saying the path is easy to work through the sorrow and suffering of the sins in our nation (now and in the past), but the answer needs to conform to the pattern in Scripture. And ultimately focus on a true understanding of sin and redemption in Christ.And finally, one more message of the world that I fear is infiltrating the church. Politics. Let me tell you what I mean and tell you what I don't mean. Our country is so polarized these days. That alone has raised the prominence of partisan politics. Along with that has come a disproportional hope in political solutions.When that intersects with the church and either parallels the Gospel in importance or displaces the Gospel as the answer to sin and salvation, it's then that it becomes a message of the world and is a spirit of error.I am not saying that you should avoid politics. There are important matters, and the Bible speaks to some of the matters that come before our state and federal systems. But even on a personal level, we should not trust in chariots and horses (as Psalm 20 puts it) but rather we should trust in the name of the Lord. It's a matter of priority and hope.Well, there you have it.Let me recap so far and then conclude.1. You should brush your teeth.2. The apostle John is calling us to test the spirits… test the teaching in the church. Why? He says there are many false prophets that have gone out into the world. There is the Spirit of God who is the Spirit of Truth and there are spirits of error, or spirits of the age which come from the philosophies of the world.3. The test is whether they confess the truth of Christ in his person… and I believe, by implication, in his work – the Gospel. Any worldly ideology that denies a core principle of Jesus or salvation is a spirit of error, just like the Gnosticism of the second century.4. There are many false philosophies in the world that try to subvert the Gospel. And there will be more tomorrow. We're called to be discerning by testing them with the Word of God, such as 1 John 4:1-6.In conclusion, when we focus on Christ in all his fullness and glory and in his Gospel of peace, we are assured that we have the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit, in us. When it seems like the world and the devil are encroaching in on the truth and the church, we hope and rest in what verse 4 says.“Little children,” beloved of God, “you are from God and have overcome them,” now listen… “for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” God has given you his Holy Spirit in you. He is infinitely greater than he who is in the world. Through him, God's Spirit May we believe the truth of Christ, may we reject the world's philosophies, and may we rest in his work in us. Amen?

Naysayers step aside we're celebrating the Birth of Christ! Why I celebrate the birth of Jesus on December 25th! Starlight, starbright first star I see tonight. I wish I may I wish I might have the wish I wish tonight... oh hogwash The only star that matters is the star of David that shone bright guiding the Magi to Christ! We discuss the reasons why I totally celebrate the Birth of Christ on Christmas. There's more! What Christ did for us when He put the flesh suit on! website Books Merchandise

What Christ has he has already given to you.You can also watch Pastor Jeremy's Evening Encouragements on our app or on our website: https://timeofgrace.vhx.tv/evening-encouragements-with-pastor-jeremy-1Want to keep in touch with Pastor Jeremy? Sign up to receive his periodic emails. https://timeofgrace.org/evening-encouragements-email/

Christ does not promise comfort and ease in this life. He does not promise us marriage, children, or health. What Christ does promise is forgiveness of sins, freedom from God's wrath, adoption as His children, and eternal life. Is this not enough hope for you?

He Wants to Strengthen You Today's readings are I Kings 16, II Chronicles 15-16, and Colossians 1.  We are reading from the New Living Translation. God has finally found what he's looking for.  He searches all over the world, we're told in II Chronicles 16:9.   The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. God finds what he is looking for, but not in Asa or his father, Abijah, or any of the kings of Israel or Judah.  He finds what he is looking for, in His Son.  His eyes have searched the whole earth from the beginning of time, to find that person whose heart is fully committed to him.  There's only one person who has lived that quality of life – it's not you, me, Asa, or Abijah.  It's the Son.  The eyes of the Father lit upon the Son.  When he saw the son he said, This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. (Mt 17:5 NLT) This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. (Mt 3:17 NLT) He finds what he's looking for in the Son.  And now, by God's grace, you can be found in the Son.  So God can find what he's looking for, in you.   Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault. (Col 1:22 NLT) God has found what he's looking for in you, Christian.  Because you now stand before him without fault, holy and blameless in his presence. Christ has reconciled you to himself, by His death on the cross. In fact Paul says that Christ has reconciled ALL THING to himself. On the cross, he has won for His father, many sons and daughters. So that, now, God has found what he is looking for. His son. He is finding him in you.   In 2 Cor 5:19 Paul says the same thing. That God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, not counting their sins against them.  Christ's victory on the cross accomplished far more than we have dared to imagine. But Paul is wanting to blow our imaginations out of the water.  He says, Do you know that you are blameless, without a single fault, and holy? Do you know that God has found what he is looking for, in you, because you are in Christ?  And it's not because of anything you have done, but what Christ has done for you? Do you know that?  Have you entered into the joy of that? Have YOU found what you're looking for?  Do you realize that you, your true life, has been hidden with God in Christ?  What Christ has done for you on the cross has brought you into His life. Now you can live with strength, confidence, joy, and peace.  All these things have been won for you. Colossians 1:27 says, For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory. That's the Good News – the Gospel!  Apply that to your heart today, and every day!  God has found what he is looking for in his Son and you can be found in him, too.  You have been found, without fault, holy and blameless, because of Christ.  Now, abide in him as he is in you, and have his joy. Support our podcast and give online HERE! or you can give via text by typing the word "Give" to 503-694-3738