Podcasts about whole counsel

This week we begin a new series with a new guest, Misty Snyder. Misty is the coauthor of Behold Your God: Seeking Him Early and the wife of Dr. John Snyder. For help in this series, we are looking to Charles Spurgeon and J. C. Ryle. Spurgeon's little work, Feed My Lambs, was written for Christian parents and Sunday School teachers. This week, we focus on the opening section where Spurgeon hones in on what it means to feed the little ones. This feeding means that we must speak in a way that children can understand. It doesn't mean simply replacing big words with small words. But it means defining and communicating in a way they can follow and grasp. Last in the series, we will look at a sermon preached by J. C. Ryle, a contemporary of Charles Spurgeon. Check the show notes for the full text of Spurgeon's pamphlet, Ryle's sermons, and links to purchase physical copies, plus other helpful resources for nurturing the faith of the little ones in your life. Show Notes: Behold Your God: Seeking Him Early - https://shop.mediagratiae.org/collections/childrens-curriculum Charles Spurgeon's book for parents and teachers: https://gracegems.org/B/Spurgeon_children.htm J. C. Ryle - Two Bears and Other Addresses to Childre: https://www.christianbook.com/two-bears-and-other-addresses-children/j-c-ryle/9781583391051/pd/391052 Want to listen to The Whole Counsel on the go? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast app: https://www.mediagratiae.org/podcasts You can get The Whole Counsel a day early on the Media Gratiae App: https://subsplash.com/mediagratiae/app

On this week's episode, Dr. John Snyder hosts a former member of Christ Church New Albany, Josephine Rose. Josephine began coming to CCNA while she was in college. It was during her time in the fellowship there that God revealed Himself to her and rescued her. After graduation, she came down with a serious illness that forced her to move back in with her parents. Bedridden and anxious, she and her mother prayed for God to show her something useful she could do with her time. The next day, she opened her laptop and began blogging.From the simple act of sharing the realities of God that she was learning through her illness, Josephine was approached by numerous ministries to write for them. She accepted, and doors continued to be opened for her. Recently, LifeWay published a Bible study written for teenage girls focused on prayer. The title is Talking to God: A Bible Study on Prayer. The study is based upon the foundation of God's attributes and the Lord's Prayer. We pray the testimony of God's faithfulness to Josephine and the conversation between her and John encourage you to seek afresh a close communion with God as our Father. Show Notes: See Josephine's Blog: https://josephinedrose.com/ Talking to God: A Bible Study on Prayer - https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/talking-to-god-teen-girls-bible-study-book-P005847913 Want to listen to The Whole Counsel on the go? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast app: https://www.mediagratiae.org/podcasts You can get The Whole Counsel a day early on the Media Gratiae App: https://subsplash.com/mediagratiae/app

This week's sermon is the final in our series of revival sermons from Rev. Vernon Higham. Isaiah saw the need for revival in his day, and he cried out for it. We are also in great need of revival, and we hope the previous episodes have led you to cry out to God for it. In this final sermon, Rev. Higham shares with us the hope for revival from Isaiah 64:8-12. This hope is not the hope the world has. It is a solid, tangible thing because crying out for God's ungrieved presence among us is a prayer that pleases him. Dr. John Snyder ends this week's episode, as he has several others, with a book recommendation. He opted to leave you with a book edited by Richard Owen Roberts. If you have participated in the Behold Your God: Rethinking God Biblically study, you know Mr. Roberts. His book is titled Scotland Saw His Glory and recounts accounts of revival going back to the Scottish Puritan era. Show Notes: W. V. Higham Trust: https://www.wvhigham.org/ The Turn of the Tide by W. Vernon Higham: http://churchawakening.com/product/the-turn-the-tide/ Lectures of the Revival of Religion, by Ministers of the Church of Scotland edited by W. M. Hetherington https://www.abebooks.com/Lectures-Revival-Religion-Ministers-Church-Scotland/31027820289/bd Free ebook: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Lectures_on_the_revival_of_religion_by_ministers_o?id=T-kDAAAAQAAJ&hl=en_US&gl=US&pli=1 Scotland Saw His Glory by Richard Owen Roberts https://www.rorbooks.com/index.php/product/scotland-saw-his-glory-a-history-of-revivals-in-scotland/ Want to listen to The Whole Counsel on the go? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast app: https://www.mediagratiae.org/podcasts You can get The Whole Counsel a day early on the Media Gratiae App: https://subsplash.com/mediagratiae/app

This week's podcast is the third of four sermons on revival preached by Reverend Vernon Higham in 1984. Rev. Higham felt the need for revival in his own land, and his desire for revival is expressed throughout this powerful sermon based on Isaiah 64:1–7. We pray this series benefits you and burdens you to pray for revival in your own soul, family, church, and land. If you would like to hear more sermons from Rev. Higham, you can see the link in the show notes below for the Vernon Higham Trust. Show Notes: W. V. Higham Trust: https://www.wvhigham.org/ The Turn of the Tide by W. Vernon Higham: http://churchawakening.com/product/the-turn-the-tide/ Lectures of the Revival of Religion, by Ministers of the Church of Scotland edited by W. M. Hetherington https://www.abebooks.com/Lectures-Revival-Religion-Ministers-Church-Scotland/31027820289/bd Free ebook: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Lectures_on_the_revival_of_religion_by_ministers_o?id=T-kDAAAAQAAJ&hl=en_US&gl=US&pli=1 Want to listen to The Whole Counsel on the go? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast app: https://www.mediagratiae.org/podcasts You can get The Whole Counsel a day early on the Media Gratiae App: https://subsplash.com/mediagratiae/app

“Who is this who comes from Edom, With garments of glowing colors from Bozrah? This One who is majestic in His apparel, Marching in the greatness of His strength? 'It is I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save.'” Isaiah 63:1 This week's podcast continues the sermon series by Reverend W. V. Higham. Mr. Higham was the pastor of John Snyder and his family while he spent time in Wales working on his doctorate. In this sermon, Mr. Higham continues discussing the need we have for revival but also highlights the fruit of true revival such as powerful preaching, earnest prayer, and a commitment to biblical worship. The discerning hearer might realize all these things are the ordinary means of grace through which God meets His people. That is true. But in revival, all these ordinary means are made effectual to an extraordinary degree. Same means; different degree. We pray this sermon is not only an encouragement to you in the troubled days we live in, but that it also gives fuel for you as you pray for revival in our day. Show Notes: W. V. Higham Trust: https://www.wvhigham.org/ The Turn of the Tide by W. Vernon Higham: http://churchawakening.com/product/the-turn-the-tide/ Lectures on Revivals by William Sprague: https://banneroftruth.org/us/store/theology-books/lectures-on-revivals/ Lectures of the Revival of Religion, by Ministers of the Church of Scotland edited by W. M. Hetherington https://www.abebooks.com/Lectures-Revival-Religion-Ministers-Church-Scotland/31027820289/bd Free ebook: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Lectures_on_the_revival_of_religion_by_ministers_o?id=T-kDAAAAQAAJ&hl=en_US&gl=US&pli=1 Want to listen to The Whole Counsel on the go? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast app: https://www.mediagratiae.org/podcasts You can get The Whole Counsel a day early on the Media Gratiae App: https://subsplash.com/mediagratiae/app

Христос – Владыка веры-2 / Christ – Master of Faith-2 Евангелие от Луки – 237От Луки 24:25-35 I. Плоды неверия / The Fruits of UnbeliefII. Причина неверия / The Cause of UnbeliefIII. Лекарство от неверия / The Cure for Unbelief A. Объяснение всей Божьей воли / The Explanation of the Whole Counsel of God B. Духовное озарение / Spiritual IlluminationIV. Торжество веры / The Triumph of Faith

While Dr. John Snyder was in Wales pursuing his doctorate, he and his family attended Heath Evangelical Church, where Mr. W. Vernon Higham was the pastor. Mr. Higham was also a close friend of Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones and his wife. Through the years spent at Heath Evangelical, John and his family benefited greatly from Mr. Higham's preaching, but there has been one series that John has gone back to time and again. He has also recommended it to many others. Mr. Higham preached this series on revival at the Evangelical Movement of Wales Conference. This first sermon highlights our world's need for revival and is based on Isaiah 62. As we at Media Gratiae have been blessed by these messages, we pray you will be as well. Show Notes: W. V. Higham Trust: https://www.wvhigham.org/ The Turn of the Tide by W. Vernon Higham: http://churchawakening.com/product/the-turn-the-tide/ Lectures of the Revival of Religion, by Ministers of the Church of Scotland edited by W. M. Hetherington https://www.abebooks.com/Lectures-Revival-Religion-Ministers-Church-Scotland/31027820289/bd Free ebook: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Lectures_on_the_revival_of_religion_by_ministers_o?id=T-kDAAAAQAAJ&hl=en_US&gl=US&pli=1 Want to listen to The Whole Counsel on the go? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast app: https://www.mediagratiae.org/podcasts You can get The Whole Counsel a day early on the Media Gratiae App: https://subsplash.com/mediagratiae/app

Sitting in the prayer service of a church can feel like a passive experience. But it does not have to be. As we conclude our series on the corporate prayer service, Jeremy Walker preaches to his local flock at Maidenbower Baptist Church in Crawley, England about the practice of engaging with the prayer service. It may seem there isn't much to do with your head bowed and eyes closed, but nothing could be further from the truth. We pray this series has been a blessing to you. If you are blessed to be in a church with a healthy prayer service, our hope is that this gives you a renewed appreciation for it and equips you to be prepared for your next opportunity. If you are in a church without such a meeting, we pray there have been some helpful information in these episodes that you can apply to your situation. Show Notes: Resources from Jeremy Walker A Word in Season - https://www.mediagratiae.org/podcasts-1/a-word-in-season From the Heart of Spurgeon Podcast - https://www.mediagratiae.org/podcasts-1/from-the-heart-of-spurgeon Some of our favorite books by Jeremy: Life in Christ - https://www.heritagebooks.org/products/life-in-christ-becoming-and-being-a-disciple-of-the-lord-jesus-christ-walker.html The Brokenhearted Evangelist - https://www.heritagebooks.org/products/the-brokenhearted-evangelist-walker.html Books by Jeremy Walker at Reformation Heritage Books: https://www.heritagebooks.org/Search.html#/Search.html?search=Jeremy+Walker Want to listen to The Whole Counsel on the go? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast app: https://www.mediagratiae.org/podcasts You can get The Whole Counsel a day early on the Media Gratiae App: https://subsplash.com/mediagratiae/app

We've now spent two weeks focusing on the corporate prayer service. It is our prayer that, if you are not participating in your church's prayer service, or if your church does not have one, you will find a way to begin this sweet means of grace. In this episode, Jeremy Walker and Teddy James discuss some helpful resources on learning to pray, both privately and corporately. Teddy also asks Jeremy for his counsel toward those in churches without a prayer service. How can a pastor begin to lead his flock toward this precious practice? How can a church member encourage his or her pastor to consider it? Next week we will wrap up this series with the second sermon from Jeremy Walker, which offers counsel to those sitting in the prayer service and not praying aloud. This is not an hour of passiveness for them. It should be a time of great, intentional activity. Show Notes: Piercing Heaven - https://www.wtsbooks.com/products/piercing-heaven-prayers-of-the-puritans-9781683593348?variant=31497830793278 Valley of Vision - https://banneroftruth.org/us/store/devotional-books/the-valley-of-vision/ Prayer by John Bunyan - https://banneroftruth.org/us/store/christian-living/prayer-by-john-bunyan/ A Way to Pray (A Method of Prayer) by Matthew Henry - https://banneroftruth.org/us/store/christian-living/way-to-pray/ Want to listen to The Whole Counsel on the go? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast app: https://www.mediagratiae.org/podcasts You can get The Whole Counsel a day early on the Media Gratiae App: https://subsplash.com/mediagratiae/app

This week we continue our series on the corporate prayer service. As stated last week, we are sharing the first of two sermons Jeremy Walker preached to his congregation on corporate prayer. Taken from 1 Corinthians 14:16 and Acts 4:24, Jeremy seeks to give practical counsel for those leading out in the prayer service. He discusses how we can come into the service prepared to pray. He also hits on ways we can be a blessing or a discouragement to brothers and sisters in the congregation with us by things as simple as the volume of our prayer. Next week Jeremy and Teddy will continue the series by seeking to answer the question: What if my church doesn't have a prayer service? How can I help get one started as a pastor? How can I encourage my pastor to start one? Show Notes: Resources from Jeremy Walker A Word in Season - https://www.mediagratiae.org/podcasts-1/a-word-in-season From the Heart of Spurgeon Podcast - https://www.mediagratiae.org/podcasts-1/from-the-heart-of-spurgeon Some of our favorite books by Jeremy: Life in Christ - https://www.heritagebooks.org/products/life-in-christ-becoming-and-being-a-disciple-of-the-lord-jesus-christ-walker.html The Brokenhearted Evangelist - https://www.heritagebooks.org/products/the-brokenhearted-evangelist-walker.html Books by Jeremy Walker at Reformation Heritage Books: https://www.heritagebooks.org/Search.html#/Search.html?search=Jeremy+Walker Want to listen to The Whole Counsel on the go? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast app: https://www.mediagratiae.org/podcasts You can get The Whole Counsel a day early on the Media Gratiae App: https://subsplash.com/mediagratiae/app

357 30 March 2025: The WHOLE Counsel of God??? (1 Cor. 16) by Rev. John Brogan

Recently some of our team members listened to a sermon series preached by Jeremy Walker on the corporate prayer service. We were so blessed by it that we wanted to share it with you. But Jeremy preached those sermons for his own church where there is already a foundational understanding of the purpose and focus of the corporate prayer service. To better help our audience, we thought it would be beneficial for Jeremy and Teddy James to have a few discussions to help establish that foundation and answer a few questions that may arise from the sermons. So in some ways this new series will be different than what we have done in the past. For this introductory episode, Jeremy and Teddy are talking in our normal format. Next week we will share the first sermon of Jeremy's series. The following episode will be Jeremy and Teddy again in our normal format. And the final episode will be Jeremy's second sermon. We are excited about this series and pray it is a blessing to you. Show Notes: How to ruin your spiritual life sermon series - https://www.sermonaudio.com/series/185833 A Word in Season - https://www.mediagratiae.org/podcasts-1/a-word-in-season From the Heart of Spurgeon Podcast - https://www.mediagratiae.org/podcasts-1/from-the-heart-of-spurgeon Some of our favorite books by Jeremy: Life in Christ - https://www.heritagebooks.org/products/life-in-christ-becoming-and-being-a-disciple-of-the-lord-jesus-christ-walker.html The Brokenhearted Evangelist - https://www.heritagebooks.org/products/the-brokenhearted-evangelist-walker.html Books by Jeremy Walker at Reformation Heritage Books: https://www.heritagebooks.org/Search.html#/Search.html?search=Jeremy+Walker Want to listen to The Whole Counsel on the go? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast app: https://www.mediagratiae.org/podcasts You can get The Whole Counsel a day early on the Media Gratiae App: https://subsplash.com/mediagratiae/app

Embracing the Whole Counsel of God

We have spent the last several weeks discussing the life of prayer in the Christian. Only those who have cried out to the Lord for the salvation of a child, parent, spouse, or other loved ones know the desperation one can feel in this situation. We are regularly tempted with the whisper of the enemy that our prayers aren't working. We continually pray, but that loved one seems to only put more distance between himself and God. So what do we do? Dr. John Snyder and Hugh Morrison discuss how we can approach these situations in faith and how we can answer the enemy's lies with Scripture. A danger the duo points out is that one tactic of the enemy is to make us withdraw from prayer and turn to our own schemes. But God has told us that he will only be found by seeking his face. And prayer is one of the primary means by which we seek his face. So do not despair and do not surrender the sacred privilege of prayer in your life today, particularly in regard to loved ones. Show Notes: Psalm 102 Exodus 2 Psalm 107 Psalm 116 To hear Hugh's sermons at Christ Church New Albany: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvnJqlEs5pO6h_fRk2vMVWJqEL112dvIW Want to listen to The Whole Counsel on the go? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast app: https://www.mediagratiae.org/podcasts You can get The Whole Counsel a day early on the Media Gratiae App: https://subsplash.com/mediagratiae/app

How do Christians pray when we aren't sure God is going to answer positively what we pray for? That is the heart of the discussion this week between Dr. John Snyder and Hugh Morrison, pastor and HeartCry missionary in Canada. As Hugh says in the podcast, our role in prayer is to ask; God's role is to answer. So how do we ask? We bring questions God has told us to ask. He has told us to pray for the salvation of loved ones. He has told us to pray for the healing of the sick. He has told us to pray for sanctification and holiness. And he has told us to pray for all of those things without doubting. But when it comes to praying for healing or for the salvation of a loved one, how do we persevere when we doubt? We begin by confessing the doubt to God and giving it up to him. As Hugh later said during one of his sermons at Christ Church New Albany, we reject what we see as reality and replace it with God's reality. This is not an easy task to accomplish. But it is one that God has obligated himself to help his children do. So cry out to him for help, and he will, like a loving father, walk alongside you and help you pray to him. Show Notes: Autobiography of George Muller: https://www.amazon.com/Autobiography-George-Muller/dp/0883681595 Hudson Taylor Biography: https://www.davidsonpublishing.org/hudson-taylor.html Amy Carmichael: Beauty for Ashes: https://banneroftruth.org/us/store/history-biography/amy-carmichael/ The Diary and Journal of David Brainerd: With Notes and Reflections by Jonathan Edwards: https://banneroftruth.org/us/store/history-biography/diary-and-journal-of-david-brainerd/ To hear Hugh's sermons at Christ Church New Albany: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvnJqlEs5pO6h_fRk2vMVWJqEL112dvIW Want to listen to The Whole Counsel on the go? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast app: https://www.mediagratiae.org/podcasts You can get The Whole Counsel a day early on the Media Gratiae App: https://subsplash.com/mediagratiae/app

Sermon on Acts 20:25-32 by Pastor Jeff McInnis from Springhill Community Church

In one sense, prayer is the simplest thing for a Christian. It is simply a child going to his father and talking. But it is also mysterious because it is a relational transaction between our soul and the only uncreated being in the universe. We can have communion with the Redeemer of our souls. We can walk into the presence of almighty God to have his attention. Hugh Morrison, you may remember his talk to church leaders a few weeks ago, is on the podcast this week to discuss the labor of prayer with Dr. John Snyder. This will be a three-episode series with this opening discussion focused on the necessity of meeting with God in prayer. Because prayer is seldom studied, it is often seen as something to do as part of our morning devotion, part of a worship service, part of eating a meal. But prayer is much more. Prayer should be the heartbeat, the breathing of a Christian. It is a thread through which nearness and communion with God is woven into our lives. So how can we have the prayer life we yearn for? How can we perform that work of praying to God? One help is to read all that Scripture has to say about the issue. A secondary help is to find someone you know who practices prayer. A third help, particularly if you do not have someone who can disciple you in prayer, is the use of biographies. John and Hugh share how God had used several biographies to shape their prayer lives. Show Notes: Autobiography of George Muller: https://www.amazon.com/Autobiography-George-Muller/dp/0883681595 Hudson Taylor Biography: https://www.davidsonpublishing.org/hudson-taylor.html Amy Carmichael: Beauty for Ashes: https://banneroftruth.org/us/store/history-biography/amy-carmichael/ The Diary and Journal of David Brainerd: With Notes and Reflections by Jonathan Edwards: https://banneroftruth.org/us/store/history-biography/diary-and-journal-of-david-brainerd/ Want to listen to The Whole Counsel on the go? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast app: https://www.mediagratiae.org/podcasts You can get The Whole Counsel a day early on the Media Gratiae App: https://subsplash.com/mediagratiae/app

If you would like some help in studying Galatians, consider Gospel Realities: Lessons from Galatians. Watch the study trailer here: https://youtu.be/HlAIb5uSBOI Find more information here: https://www.mediagratiae.org/gospel-realities-lessons-from-galatians This week we present to you session one of Gospel Realities: Lessons from Galatians. In this session, Dr. Yuille focuses on the intent of the Bible study and what he hopes to teach throughout all eight sessions. What others are saying about this study: “The gospel is the beautiful, glorious, and central message of Christianity. All of history and all of Scripture revolve around it, and unless we lay hold of it by faith, we will perish eternally. But it was precisely this gospel that was under attack among the first-century churches of Galatia. Paul, under the inspiration of the Spirit, wrote this forceful letter to remind the Galatian Christians of the pure gospel of Jesus Christ. With faithful exegesis, concrete application, and experiential meditation, Dr. Yuille guides us into the glories of the gospel and the implications of the gospel for our lives. Excellent for personal devotions, small groups, and Bible studies!” Dr. Joel R. Beeke, Chancellor and President, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids, Michigan The Galatians needed Christ. They needed the whole Christ. They needed all of Christ. They needed nothing and no-one else apart from or in addition to Christ, as revealed by the Holy Spirit, to bring them into and keep them in the family of God. Clearly, warmly, sweetly, earnestly, logically, and consistently, Stephen Yuille presents to us that Christ whom Paul preached to the Galatians. In doing so, he walks us through the gospel in all its brilliance and beauty and blessing. To spend two happy months in this study would be a worthy investment of your time and effort. Jeremy Walker Show Notes: Want to listen to The Whole Counsel on the go? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast app: https://www.mediagratiae.org/podcasts You can get The Whole Counsel a day early on the Media Gratiae App: https://subsplash.com/mediagratiae/app

When you listen to Bible teaching, what do you lean toward? Do you like stuff that makes you feel good and comfortable? Or would you rather be kicked in the rear and told to get your act together? Today, Pastor Bill explains why being a regular part of a local church is so important. Your pastor is responsible before God to teach you the Whole Counsel of God. Sometimes God's Word will comfort you, and at other times convict you. But it should always be The Word, not the pastor, who motivates you.

Media Gratiae is pleased to announce our newest, Gospel Realities: Lessons from Galatians, written and taught by Dr. Stephen Yuille. Yuille is the professor of church history and spiritual formation at The Southerwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, the preaching pastor of a local church, and serves as a content director and editor at Reformation Heritage Books. We at Media Gratiae found the writing and editing of Dr. Yuille so helpful we asked him to create a study for us. Even though he has an incredibly full schedule, he was happy to do the work of preparing, writing, and preaching this study. We are grateful for his work. We pray after hearing from him you will be encouraged to study Galatians alongside us. If you would like some help in studying Galatians, consider Gospel Realities: Lessons from Galatians. Watch the study trailer here: https://youtu.be/HlAIb5uSBOI Find more information here: https://www.mediagratiae.org/gospel-realities-lessons-from-galatians Show Notes William Perkins volumes from Reformation Heritage Books: https://www.heritagebooks.org/products/the-works-of-william-perkins-the-10-volume-collection.html A Perfect Redeemer by William Perkins: https://www.heritagebooks.org/products/a-perfect-redeemer-perkins.html Want to listen to The Whole Counsel on the go? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast app: https://www.mediagratiae.org/podcasts You can get The Whole Counsel a day early on the Media Gratiae App: https://subsplash.com/mediagratiae/app

Continuing the series called Counseling from the Whole Counsel of God, today we consider trials of various kinds (1:2) and Gods design for such trials. All peoples are created to worship (Genesis 1:26-27; Romans 1:20-21). Instinctively, we give ourselves (our thoughts, feelings, choices, actions; i.e., our worth) to the people and things valued most. And the ways we spend ourselves demonstrate who or what we worship. James 1:1-5 reveals a prescription for godly worship in the midst of and even because of these trials of various kinds (1:2).

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For the last several weeks, we have considered the sweet command of Hebrews 12:2: looking, fixing, focusing our eyes upon the author of finisher of our faith, Jesus Christ. Dr. John Snyder and Teddy James have previously discussed the foundational principles necessary for obeying this command. Today, they will address whom we are blessed to look towards. Have you considered what a blessing it is to behold Christ? He is the image of the invisible God. Those throughout the Old Testament who wanted to behold God could not do so and live. But in Jesus Christ, we have the full deity of God and all of his attributes coming to meet us in friendship and mercy. So how do we gaze upon Christ? There are many passages we could look to, and we have them listed below for you to look up and examine for yourself. In these passages, we see him in eternity past, in his incarnation, learning and growing, teaching, persecution, the cross, the resurrection, and now in his enthronement in heaven! These gazes should fill our souls with hope and love for God. Charles Spurgeon said it well, “And we invite you to look to this scene that you may be lightened. What are your doubts this morning? Whatever they be, they can find a kind and fond solution here, by looking at Christ on the cross. You have come here, perhaps, doubting God's mercy; look to Christ upon the cross, and can you doubt it then? If God were not full of mercy, and plenteous in his compassion, would he have given his Son to bleed and die? Think you, that a Father would rend his darling from his heart and nail him to a tree, that he might suffer an ignominious death for our sakes, and yet be hard, merciless, and without pity? God forbid the impious thought! There must be mercy in the heart of God, or else there had never been a cross on Calvary. But do you doubt God's power to save! Are you saying in yourself this morning, ‘How can he forgive so great a sinner as I am?' Oh! look there, sinner, look there, to the great atonement made, to the utmost ransom paid. Dost thou think that that blood has not an efficacy to pardon and to justify?” If your gaze has been fuzzy and unfocused. If you have found yourself looking more at life, stress, or even the good gifts of God more than at God, consider the words Theodore Monod wrote in his small pamphlet: Looking unto Jesus—NOW, if we have never looked unto Him! Looking unto Jesus—AFRESH, if we have ceased doing so! Looking unto Jesus—ONLY! Looking unto Jesus—STILL! Looking unto Jesus—ALWAYS! With a gaze more and more constant, more and more confident, "changed into the same image from glory to glory" (2 Corinthians 3:18), and thus awaiting the hour when he will call us to pass from earth to Heaven, and from time to eternity—the promised hour, the blessed hour, when at last "we shall be like Him, for we shall Him as He really is!" (1 John 3:2). Throughout this series we have been conducting a giveaway. If already receive emails from Media Gratiae then you are already entered to win. If you don't get them, you can sign up here: https://www.mediagratiae.org/the-whole-counsel-giveaway Show Notes: Sign up to win a copy of Looking Unto Jesus here: https://www.heritagebooks.org/products/looking-unto-jesus-ambrose.html Theodore Monod's Looking Unto Jesus https://www.gracegems.org/30/looking_unto_jesus.htm John's Sermon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOLMyt5SYpI Scripture References: John 1 1 Peter 1:20 Hebrews 2:14-18 Luke 2:52 Hebrews 5:8-9 1 Peter 2:21-23 Hebrews 12 Colossians 2 Zechariah 12:10 John 19 Ephesians 1 Romans 4:25 Revelation 5:6-14 1 Thessalonians 4:16 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10 Want to listen to The Whole Counsel on the go? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast app: https://www.mediagratiae.org/podcasts You can get The Whole Counsel a day early on the Media Gratiae App: https://subsplash.com/mediagratiae/app

Last week we looked at the Greek word apherontes eis, which translated literally is “away from look toward.” And we shared how we must look away from certain things if our eyes are going to focus on Jesus Christ. This week Dr. John Snyder and Teddy James share specific things we must look away from. First on the list is the temptation to long for the old life. This common refrain is found in the book of Exodus. The Israelites complain that life in Egypt was better than walking in the desert with God. The Christian can be tempted to look fondly upon life before Christ. We must fight this. Second on the list are sins that perhaps were not very tempting at one time, but they are now. It will be impossible to run the race of life with Jesus if we hold on to sins such as greed or the idolization of people's opinions. The third item to look away from are the good things. Paul said he counted all things as rubbish. He was willing to let go of all he knew previously, all his “right” upbringing, in order to gain Christ. If we as individual Christians or careful churches take pride in our past relationship with God, we will not run today's race well. We are still giving away two copies of Isaac Ambrose's Looking Unto Christ. Sign up here: https://www.mediagratiae.org/the-whole-counsel-giveaway Show Notes: John's Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-aPhM2DO4k Sign up to win a copy of Looking Unto Jesus here: https://www.heritagebooks.org/products/looking-unto-jesus-ambrose.html See our previous episodes where we mentioned Looking Unto Jesus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLLiw_Xqa08 Want to listen to The Whole Counsel on the go? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast app: https://www.mediagratiae.org/podcasts You can get The Whole Counsel a day early on the Media Gratiae App: https://subsplash.com/mediagratiae/app

Last week Dr. John Snyder and Teddy James introduced our new series that will, by the grace of God, help us walk closer to Jesus in 2025 than we did in 2024. We will spend a great deal of time focusing on that sweet command to "look unto Christ."This week we are still getting help from Isaac Ambrose's book "Looking Unto Christ" (details on the giveaway linked below). In order to look toward an object, we must first look away from all other objects. Imagine a groom who sees his bride walking down the aisle. There are many people in the church with them, but his eyes are fixed on one. That is how the Christian life should be. There are many things in our lives, but our focus should be on the one thing needful. In this week's episode, John and Teddy dive into a bit of Greek language in Hebrews 12:1-2, hence the odd title of this episode. Your English translation of Scripture may say "fixing our eyes on Jesus," "looking to Jesus," or "looking only at Jesus." But there is a nuance in the Greek term apherontes eis that is hard to convey. The literal translation is away from look toward. So the writer of Hebrews is telling us that in order to look to Christ, we must first look away from every other thing in life. We pray this episode helps you identify the things in your life you have been looking to for hope, comfort, and help that are not Christ, so that you may look to Christ alone. If you are interested, you can sign up here: https://www.mediagratiae.org/the-whole-counsel-giveaway Show Notes: John's Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-aPhM2DO4k Sign up to win a copy of Looking Unto Jesus here: https://www.heritagebooks.org/products/looking-unto-jesus-ambrose.html See our previous episodes where we mentioned Looking Unto Jesus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLLiw_Xqa08 Want to listen to The Whole Counsel on the go? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast app: https://www.mediagratiae.org/podcasts You can get The Whole Counsel a day early on the Media Gratiae App: https://subsplash.com/mediagratiae/app

Even the sweetest commands from our King are still commands. We may be tempted to view commands such as "Do not kill" as more weighty than the command "Look unto Christ." But both are spoken from the same authority, God himself. Therefore, they are worthy of the same attention, effort, and obedience. For the next few weeks, we will be discussing the command to look unto Jesus. There are several passages that state this command, each in a different way. But it is a theme of both the Old and the New Testaments. For this week's episode, Dr. John Snyder and Teddy James are getting help from a journal entry written in 1773 by John Newton. Many of you will know Newton as the author of "Amazing Grace," among other hymns. But the particular journal entry we are resourcing in this week's episode reads: This is the Ninth New Years day I have seen in this place. I have reason to say, The Lord crowneth every year with his goodness. The entrance of this finds me and my _ [dear Mary] in health and peace. I am still favoured with strength, and with some liberty for my public work and hope the Lord is still pleased to work by me, for the edification of his people already called, and the awakening of sinners. As to myself, It is given me to trust in the Lord Jesus for life and salvation – I know he is both willing and able to save. Upon him as an All-sufficient Saviour and upon his word of promise I build my hope, believing that he will not suffer me to be put to shame. My exercise of grace is faint, my consolations small, my heart is full of evil, my chief sensible burdens are, a wild ungoverned imagination, and a strange sinful backwardness to reading the Scriptures, and, to secret prayer. These have been my complaints for many years, and I have no less cause of complaint than formerly. But my eye and my heart is to Jesus. His I am, him I desire to serve, to him I this day would devote and surrender myself anew. O Lord, accept, support, protect, teach, comfort and bless me. Be thou my Arm, my Eye, my Joy and my Salvation. Mortify the power of sin, and increase the image of thy holiness in my heart. Anoint me with fresh oil, make me humble, faithful, diligent and obedient. Let me in all things attend to thy word as my rule, to thy glory as my end, and depend upon thy power and promise for safety and success. I am now in the 49th year of my age, and may expect in the course of a few years at most to go whence I shall no more return, nor have I a certainty of continuing here a single year or even a month or a day. May thy grace keep me always waiting till my appointed change shall come, and when the summons shall come may I be enabled to rejoice in thee, as the strength of my heart and my portion for ever. For the rest of this podcast series, we will be getting help from the first few chapters of Looking Unto Jesus by Isaac Ambrose. This 17th-century book was written after a prolonged illness and has been helping Christians gaze at the surpassing beauty of Jesus Christ for over 400 years. Looking Unto Jesus was out of print for some time, but we were happy to find it available for sale again. We were so happy, in fact, that we bought two copies to give away at the end of this series. If you would like to be entered to win a copy, you can join the Media Gratiae email list. Our email subscribers get two emails a week: the first is a devotional thought from trustworthy writers and sometimes our own studies, and the other email highlights the podcast content we are publishing that week. If you are interested, you can sign up here: https://www.mediagratiae.org/the-whole-counsel-giveaway Show Notes: Sign up to win a copy of Looking Unto Jesus here: https://www.heritagebooks.org/products/looking-unto-jesus-ambrose.html See our previous episodes where we mentioned Looking Unto Jesus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLLiw_Xqa08 Want to listen to The Whole Counsel on the go? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast app: https://www.mediagratiae.org/podcasts You can get The Whole Counsel a day early on the Media Gratiae App: https://subsplash.com/mediagratiae/app

"If my God preserves you, and preserve you he must, or else you are not his; if he will keep you, and keep you he will if you have committed your souls to his faithful guardianship, that an honor awaits you!" These words by Charles Spurgeon perfectly summarize the objective promise for every believer in Christ. God has promised that every Christian will finish this life clinging to Christ. He has done all the work necessary to fulfill this promise and will see it to completion. Yet this doesn't mean we are without responsibility. We must press on, fight, and run forward. We must run the race set before us. We can do so confidently, knowing He will make our efforts effective. This week Dr. John Snyder and Teddy James continue our discussion from last week about how our union with Jesus Christ should quicken our spiritual pace in 2025 and beyond. We pray this becomes a watershed year for you—one where you can look back and see that you made greater use of God's means of grace than in 2024, continuing this pattern in the years ahead. Show Notes: John 10:28 John 6:35-40 Matthew 10:22 Matthew 14:10-14 Romans 11:22 Colossians 1:21-23 Revelation 2:7 Revelation 2:11 Revelation 2:17 Revelation 2:26 Revelation 3:5 Revelation 3:12 Revelation 3:21 1 John 5:4 Philippians 1:6 and 2:12-13 Want to listen to The Whole Counsel on the go? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast app: https://www.mediagratiae.org/podcasts You can get The Whole Counsel a day early on the Media Gratiae App: https://subsplash.com/mediagratiae/app

Last week we mentioned a new series with Teddy James and Jeremy Walker. This week we decided to postpone that series because Dr. John Snyder and Teddy James recorded a two-episode series for the conclusion of 2024 and beginning of 2025. John and Acey Floyd recorded a series focusing on Union with Christ several months ago. As we said during those episodes, there was much more we could say on the topic, and so we wanted to revisit it with a particular emphasis on looking ahead to a new year. Likely everyone has heard the adage "Once saved, always saved." While that is a true statement, it is also incomplete and far too small to truly convey the depth of finishing this life united to Christ. But one of the biggest problems with that statement is that it leaves no room and no application for the warnings of Scripture. It also leaves large questions for those who apostatize from the faith. This is dangerous for every Christian because it means we will miss what God is saying in those passages, and it could cause us to finish slowly and poorly. To help us think about finishing well, John and Teddy discuss what faith is, what apostasy is, and why understanding those things is crucial to living a life and dying a death close to Christ. Show Notes: Scriptures mentioned: Hebrews 3:12-4:2 Hebrews 6:4-8 Hebrews 10:26-39 2 Peter 2:30-21 The story of Alexander: 2 Timothy 4:14-15 1 Timothy 1:19-20 Acts 19:29-34 Want to listen to The Whole Counsel on the go? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast app: https://www.mediagratiae.org/podcasts You can get The Whole Counsel a day early on the Media Gratiae App: https://subsplash.com/mediagratiae/app

See Jordan's study, Christ Our Treasure: Enjoying the Preeminence of Jesus in the Local Church - https://shop.mediagratiae.org/collections/jordan-thomas If we are going to see growth in our Christian lives, we must learn to see Christ through the entirety of the Bible. When the New Testament was written, the writers constantly pointed back to the Old Testament to make Jesus known. When Paul tells the Corinthians that his only objective was to make Christ known, he was talking not just in his preaching and writing but also every aspect of his life. He was a man truly marked by his love for and preoccupation with the person of Jesus Christ. So how can we follow that example? How can we be a people so preoccupied with Jesus that he permeates every conversation, every thought, every action? We are fallen people who still struggle with sin, so this will be a battle. But we will be given every grace of God to fight the battle well. The entirety of Scripture is the best weapon and tool we have in this warfare. But this emphasis isn't just for the individual Christian life. It is for the corporate life as well. How can a local expression of Christ's bride have a preoccupation with our Redeemer? How can a pastor lead in such a way that his flock gazes upon Jesus every worship service? John and Jordan ask and seek to provide some answers to these questions in this week's episode. Show Notes: See Jordan's study, Christ Our Treasure: Enjoying the Preeminence of Jesus in the Local Church - https://shop.mediagratiae.org/collections/jordan-thomas Want to listen to The Whole Counsel on the go? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast app: https://www.mediagratiae.org/podcasts You can get The Whole Counsel a day early on the Media Gratiae App: https://subsplash.com/mediagratiae/app

Welcome to the Kids Ministry and Leadership Podcast. This month we are delving into what is Intentional and Effective Discipleship in your church. Show notes for this ep will be below.Check us out!WebsiteInstagramKey Point 1: Intentional Discipleship Begins with RelationshipDiscipleship is more than a curriculum or program; it's about walking alongside kids and youth in a way that mirrors how Jesus engaged His disciples.Scripture:"Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ." — 1 Corinthians 11:1"Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together." — Hebrews 10:24-25Leadership Quote:"Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence and making sure that impact lasts in your absence." — Sheryl Sandberg………………………………………Key Point 2: Teach the Whole Counsel of GodMany young people today are growing up in a culture that offers fragmented or distorted views of truth. For discipleship to be effective, it's essential that kids and youth are taught the entire narrative of the Bible, helping them understand God's redemptive story from beginning to end. Scripture:"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness." — 2 Timothy 3:16"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom." — Colossians 3:16Leadership Quote:"Teaching is not about answering questions but about raising questions – opening doors for them in places they could not imagine." — Yawar Baig………………………………………Key Point 3: Empower the Next Generation to Grow and LeadDiscipleship is not about creating passive followers but about raising up the next generation of leaders. Kids and youth have tremendous potential, and when they are empowered to take ownership of their faith, they become active participants in God's mission. Scripture:"And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others." — 2 Timothy 2:2"For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." — Ephesians 2:10Leadership Quote:"The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. They are the one who gets the people to do the greatest things." — Ronald Reagan………………………………………Key Point 4: Consistency and Accountability are KeyIn a world filled with distractions, consistency is often the missing ingredient in discipleship. Effective discipleship requires regular engagement, follow-up, and accountability. Scripture:"Iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another." — Proverbs 27:17"As for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded." — 2 Chronicles 15:7Leadership Quote:"You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems." — James Clear………………………………………Key Point 5: Discipleship is a Lifelong JourneyTrue discipleship goes beyond short-term programs or seasonal engagement; it's a lifelong process of growing into the likeness of Christ. Scripture:"Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." — Philippians 1:6"Not that I have already o

See Jordan's study, Christ Our Treasure: Enjoying the Preeminence of Jesus in the Local Church - https://shop.mediagratiae.org/collections/jordan-thomas This week we continue our series with Jordan Thomas discussing the greatest treasure of the Christian life. If our eyes are fixed on anything other than Christ, we are looking in a fatal direction. While this sounds very noble and spiritual, it is essential. But just because it is essential does not mean it is easy. In fact, it is one of the hardest things for an individual Christian, a faithful family, and a careful church to do consistently. Dr. John Snyder and Jordan Thomas share some encouragements and examples of how we are to do this in our everyday lives. Perhaps the greatest example given to us is the Apostle Paul. There are multiple instances through his letters where he breaks out in worshipful doxologies in the middle of a logical argument. And this reality isn't reserved for Paul because he was a “superChristian.” This is meant to be the experience of every Christian. If we want to pursue holiness, if we want to fix our churches, if we want to prioritize evangelism and missions, the driving force must be a fixation and obsession with the person of Jesus Christ. Nothing else has the power to move us and the fuel to make us fight the temptation of looking elsewhere. Another major point John and Jordan tackle is the idea of Jesus being boring. Why do so many find Jesus unattractive and not worth following? Is there something wrong with Jesus? Any Christian can answer that with a resounding “NO.” But how often do we find ourselves bored in our praying to him, reading of him, studying his Word? How do we fight the battle and warm our hearts by the beautiful reality of who he is? By gazing more and more at him. If we find Jesus boring, the problem is not with him. It is in us. Show Notes: See Jordan's study here: https://shop.mediagratiae.org/collections/jordan-thomas See Jordan's study, Christ Our Treasure: Enjoying the Preeminence of Jesus in the Local Church - https://shop.mediagratiae.org/collections/jordan-thomas Want to listen to The Whole Counsel on the go? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast app: https://www.mediagratiae.org/podcasts You can get The Whole Counsel a day early on the Media Gratiae App: https://subsplash.com/mediagratiae/app

https://www.mediagratiae.org/true-hearted-discipleship Last week Dr. John Snyder introduced you to our newest study, The Nature and Practice of True-Hearted Discipleship. The eight-week study is written and taught by Dr. Ian Hamilton. As a further introduction to the study, we wanted to give you a preview of the video sessions. So this week we present to you session one, Where Authentic Discipleship Begins. The full study will officially launch November 15. In the 8 workbook lessons and accompanying video sermons, Dr. Ian Hamilton seeks to guide you back to Scripture in order to examine what Jesus has to say about what it means to be His follower. The life of a disciple begins with a radically transformative new birth, and from that birth flows a life of following Jesus in obedience. Embracing all that Jesus says about discipleship will cost you everything, but as you unequivocally surrender your life to Him, you will truly find it. If you would like more information about the study or to order it, visit https://www.mediagratiae.org/true-hearted-discipleship Endorsements for The Nature and Practice of True-Hearted Discipleship: “What does it mean to be an authentic disciple of Jesus Christ? The Bible gives us clear answers to this question, but many have not considered its teaching carefully and systematically. In this valuable little book, Ian Hamilton helps us walk step-by-step through the teaching of scripture. Each lesson is brief and interactive, with examples and application seamlessly interwoven throughout. I highly commend this study for individuals and families. It gives Bible answers to some of the most foundational spiritual questions.” Jonathan Master, President, Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary "In this deeply encouraging and timely study on the nature of Christian discipleship, Dr. Hamilton shows believers that following Jesus is not merely a way of words, but a way of life. He challenges God's people to beware of superficial forms of spirituality, and reminds us that biblical discipleship is Christ-centered, countercultural, and costly. Perfect for individual and group studies, I cannot recommend this volume highly enough." Dr. Jon Payne, Senior Minister of Christ Church. PCA, Charleston Show Notes: Want to listen to The Whole Counsel on the go? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast app: https://www.mediagratiae.org/podcasts You can get The Whole Counsel a day early on the Media Gratiae App: https://subsplash.com/mediagratiae/app

Living with the True God: Lessons from Judges - https://www.mediagratiae.org/lessons-from-judges For the last three weeks Dr. John Snyder and Teddy James have been discussing the book of Judges. Our desire has been to make you aware of how much this book speaks to our current era. To conclude this short series we want to present you with session one of our study, Living with the True God: Lessons from Judges. If you would like to get a more complete preview of the study by going through chapter one of the workbook follow the link below. Show Notes: Weeks 1 preview: https://shop.mediagratiae.org/a/members/326e6bce-c6c4-4d33-afb8-a70d9e341652/b31729a2-2f15-4aaf-922c-2f731b0cfdbd Want to listen to The Whole Counsel on the go? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast app: https://www.mediagratiae.org/podcasts You can get The Whole Counsel a day early on the Media Gratiae App: https://subsplash.com/mediagratiae/app

In this episode of Pastor Matters, hosts Chuck Lawless and Caleb Iversen welcome Dr. Dwayne Milioni, lead pastor of Open Door Church in Raleigh, NC, and associate professor at Southeastern Seminary. The conversation explores Dr. Milioni's journey in preaching through the entire Bible, his upcoming resource, Jesus Daily Bible, and insights on effective sermon preparation and the importance of commitment in pastoral leadership. They discuss the Old Testament's role in the context of the whole biblical narrative and the challenges of preaching in a way that encourages belief and application among congregants. We hope this episode is encouraging to you today! Let us know how this episode encouraged you or share any feedback you have by emailing us at pastorscenter@sebts.edu. Resources in this episode: Dr. Milioni's book, Jesus Daily Bible, is available for preorder at: https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/csb-jesus-daily-bible-hardcover-M00101397/005837914h Pastor Matters is produced by Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Find out how Southeastern can equip you to GO by visiting sebts.edu.

Thanks for listening to the River in The Hills Church podcast. We hope you are encouraged and edified by this message brought to you by Glenn Hubbart.

Message from Douglas Wilson on October 13, 2024

The book of Judges can be a difficult book to understand. There are scenes and characters that confuse and alarm us. There are actions of God's people that bother us. Sadly this can result in many Christians misreading or completely neglecting the book. But we must remember this is part the inspired word of God (2 Tim 3:16). God considers it necessary for the Christian life, and so must we. That begs the question: Why? Why is Judges so important? What can we learn of Christ? What would the Christian life be missing with out? This week we begin a series highlighting this piece of Scripture. If you want to go deeper into the book, Media Gratiae has a seven-session study called Living with the True God: Lessons from Judges. We briefly mention it in the beginning of the podcast, but if you want more information about the study, you can click the link below. Show Notes: Living with the True God: Lessons from Judges - https://www.mediagratiae.org/lessons-from-judges Want to listen to The Whole Counsel on the go? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast app: https://www.mediagratiae.org/podcasts You can get The Whole Counsel a day early on the Media Gratiae App: https://subsplash.com/mediagratiae/app

So this is sermon four of six in our series entitled: “We Are Cities Church,” the goal of which has been to communicate who we are, especially now that we're in our tenth year, and have gone from being a church planted to becoming a church rooted right here on 1524 Summit Avenue.Back on September 8, Pastor Jonathan began this series with a message on our church's mission, in which he said: “Our mission has always been, and will always be, to make disciples of Jesus” because that is what Jesus tells us to do. And when it comes to what we mean by making disciples, we mean making “joyful disciples of Jesus who remember his realness in all of life.”Now, what do those joyful disciples look like? What are their defining traits? Four things…As joyful disciples of Jesus we are Jesus worshipers, joyful servants, generous disciplers, and welcoming witnesses. And two weeks ago, Pastor David Mathis preached on that first one, Jesus Worshipers. Last week, Pastor Jonathan preached on the second one, Joyful Servants. And this week, if God allows, I'll preach on the third, Generous Disciplers. Let's pray and ask him to do so.So, we — as joyful disciples of Jesus — are Jesus worshipers, joyful servants, and, now, generous disciplers. To which, you might question, what is a generous discipler? Well, I'm glad you asked.Here's my definition: A generous discipler is someone who gladly and purposefully seeks to help other Christians follow Jesus.You like the definition? Good. But, what's with that, “other Christians” part? “A generous discipler is someone who gladly and purposefully seeks to help other Christians follow Jesus.” Why not just “other people?” Why limit it to Christians? I mean, don't we want to help those who are not yet Christians to begin to follow Jesus as well? The answer is yes — emphatically, yes! We most certainly want to help those who are not yet Christians to begin to follow Jesus because that is what Jesus commands us to do in Matthew 28:19 — a passage we recite at our commission each and every Sunday — where he says, “Make disciples of all nations.” That is, make people who, though they previously had not been followers of Jesus, are now followers of Jesus. And that process of — making those who, though previously had not been followers Jesus, are now followers of Jesus, sometimes referred to as “evangelism” or “witnessing” — is what we're going to drill down on in next week's sermon, our final defining trait — welcoming witnesses. But the focus for this morning's sermon is, assuming that we do in fact make disciples, what we should then do with them, once we've made them. That is, after we've shared the gospel with someone, and they've received Christ, and they've been baptized in his name, are we just to then say, “Alright, well, see you in eternity?” I mean, yes, Jesus calls us to make disciples. But is that all he calls us to do?See Jesus has more to say to us in Matthew 28 about this process of discipleship. He says,“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you;”Do you see the transition? Make disciples, baptize them; and then teach them.Make disciples, baptize them; and then show them how to live. Make disciples; and then, we might say, gladly and purposefully seek to help them follow Jesus.It is that portion of the equation, that helping of current followers of Jesus to continue to follow Jesus, that we are focused on this morning as generous disciplers.And so, with that, I want to turn your attention to the text, Acts chapter 20. And I've got two things that I want to show you here from this text this morning. Two methods, if you will, for helping other Christians to follow Jesus. First: Christians help other Christians to follow Jesus by speaking the word of God to them.Second: Christians help other Christians to follow Jesus by living the word of God before them.You want to help other Christians to follow Jesus? Then speak the word of God to them and live the word of God before them.We'll focus first on speak.1. Speak the Word Acts chapter 20, beginning in verse 17, for some context,“Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him.”The “he” there is Paul. So Paul is in Miletus, and while there, he sends for the elders of the church in Ephesus, saying, “Hey, come join me over here.” For some perspective, this is not like a quick trip out to a friend's house. That's like a 2-4 day journey on foot that he's just called them on. 30 miles as the crow flies, but more like 60 when it comes to all the twists and turns on the path to get there. But despite that distance, these elders in Ephesus hear the request, and they come.Verse 18,“And when they came to him, he [Paul] said to them: You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia…”So he's calling them back to the time they had spent together in Ephesus. And he's summing up his activity while he was there as, verse 19,“…serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; 20 how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house.” Now, Paul had spent nearly three years with those believers back in Ephesus. Three years! And what had he been doing throughout those three years? Among other things, he had been, verse 20: “Declaring” and “Teaching.” Mouth open and speaking to these Ephesian Christians. And what had he been speaking to them about?Well, he had been speaking to them about, “…anything that was profitable...” See it there, in verse 20?“…declaring to you anything that was profitable…”Now, at first glance, that makes it sound like Paul had been casting the net pretty wide in terms of things to speak to these Ephesians, right? I mean, anything that was profitable? Like, really anything?But just compare that somewhat vague statement with another statement of his, down in verse 27. Because while in verse 20, he says, “I did not shrink from declaring to you…anything that was profitable.” Look down with me to verse 27. In verse 27, he says almost the exact same thing. Almost. Verse 27,“…for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.” Now, do you think Paul means us to read those two things as separate bodies of content? Like, “I didn't shrink back from declaring to you anything that was profitable, nor did I shrink back from declaring to you the counsel of God?” Are those two things separate? Or, are they synonymous — the one clarifying the other? I think we could paraphrase Paul's words here as, “Elders of Ephesus, verse 20, you remember how ‘I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable' that is, verse 27, how ‘I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.'” See, because the fact of the matter is, if you're in search for the body of words that can most profit a person's soul, in search of the corpus of truth that can most bring true soul-level benefit to a person, then you need not look further than to all the words that God has already spoken.And Paul is telling them, “Remember, I didn't hold back a single word that would've been profitable for you. For, I didn't hold back a single word that God has said.” The whole counsel of God.How do you gladly and purposefully seek to help another Christian follow Jesus? First, you speak the words of God to them. And all the words of God to them. You hold not one of them back.Why the Whole Counsel?Now, at this point, someone may argue: “Time out, that was Paul. Of course, he discipled others that way. He was an apostle. But look, I am not an apostle. I am an average, run of the mill Christian. Isn't it enough for me to simply seek to help other Christians follow Jesus by speaking portions of God's word? Like, can't I just share with them the parts of God's word that are especially comforting? Most encouraging? Or least likely to upset them or convict them about areas of needed change in their life? I mean, this book has some hard sayings — just take the gospels: Jesus talks about Hell, and the fact that some people are going there. Jesus talks about crosses and how we must take up ours to follow him. Jesus talks about sexual sin and how it's better to pluck out our eyes than take part in it. Jesus says we can't serve money. Jesus says we can't live for the praise of others. Jesus says he alone is the way, truth, and the life and that no one comes to the Father except through him. Are we really to speak those words when seeking to help another Christian follow Jesus?”Well, what did Jesus say?Make disciples, baptize them, and “Teach them to observe all that I have commanded.” And he gave that commission not just to Paul. Nor just to the professionals. But to all who would claim to follow him — including you and me.Brother and sister, are you obeying Jesus in this regard? Who in your life right now needs you, needs you, to speak the words of God to them — even those that are both most difficult for them to swallow and most profitable for them to hear?So, Paul had spent three years speaking God's word, all of God's word, to the Ephesians because he knew that that was what Jesus has called his followers to do. And because he knew God's word was not going to be the only word the Ephesians were going to hear.What's at Stake?Look with me down in Acts 20:29-30. See it there with me. He says,“I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.” See what Paul had were eyes to see the battle going on in the world for words and how each and every one of the Christians around him who he was seeking to help follow Jesus were living in the midst of that battle. And every day, following his departure, there were going to be twisted things like lies, deceptions, and half-truths reigning down upon them from all sides. From within, “among your own selves” and from without, “fierce wolves out there.” Each with the aim to hit and puncture and sink into their souls, so as to draw them away from Christ and toward the wolves instead. Now, just think for a moment — is our world any different than that? I mean, consider someone you know from this church. Someone who is just a bit younger, a bit further behind in their faith than you. Maybe they're in your community group, or your life group. They're likely here this morning, maybe seated near you right now. Now do you have eyes to see the battle for words that that person lives in? Do you have eyes to see that that person, a half-hour-or-so from now, is going to walk out of this place, get in their car, and go home? And tomorrow, they're not going to come here. They're going to go to work, or school, and then maybe the gym, or the store, or to see a movie, or to enjoy a concert, or to visit a friend, or to spend time with a family member, or open a book, or turn on a screen, or pick up a magazine. And as they do, ask yourself: how many words out there are they going to see and hear between now and next Sunday? And how many of them will be twisted — laden with lies, fanged with falsehoods, aimed at leading that person not to Christ, but away from him? A hundred of them? A thousand? Are there any words you might be able to say to that person this week to help them keep following Jesus, rather than turn away from him? Is there any way you might be able to, gladly and purposefully seek to help them follow Jesus by speaking the word of God to them this week?Paul knew what Jesus had called him to. Paul knew the battle his fellow Christians were in. That's why he spoke. And that's why we should to. So, as generous disciplers, we want to gladly and purposefully seek to help other Christians to follow Jesus. And the first way we want to do that is by speaking the word of God to them. The second way, is by living it out before them. 2. Live the Word Go back with me to verse 18,“And when they came to him, he said to them: “You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia.”And you know, its interesting — the church at this time was neither rich nor powerful (least not in terms of how the world measures those things). Even still, this was the Apostle Paul. Surely someone in Ephesus has got a nice guest house somewhere outside the city for Paul to stay in, right? I mean, “Paul, get yourself set up somewhere out of the riffraff of commoners and townsfolk. Get somewhere cushy and secluded. You got important stuff to do, to read, to write. You can't afford to be interrupted by all these nobodies.” Right? Wrong.Paul did in Ephesus just the same as he did in every other city he visited — he lived among the people. Rubbed shoulders with commoners. “You yourselves know how I lived among you...”“Okay fine,” we say, “but at least Paul impressed these commoners while he was there, right? Showed them he was a cut above the rest — how strong, how intelligent, how skilled he was right?”Wrong again. Verse 18,“You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, 19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews.”Humility, tears, and trials. I mean if Paul was trying to impress, then clearly, he failed. Good thing he wasn't. He let his tears fall. His humility show. He bore the marks of trial not because he was trying to impress anybody, but because he was living in response to God's word. TearsHis tears were there because God's word had told him that he should love people and care about their souls. His tears were there because God's word has told him what happens to souls if deceived by twisted things and led away from their Savior. His tears were there because God's word had shown him that the loss of a person's faith deserved them. He was not aiming to impress people, but help people to follow Jesus. And so he let his tears fall in the process.TrialsLikewise, Paul's trials were there because God's word had called him to the front lines of battle. His trials remained there because God's word had assured him that the battle was well worth fighting no matter how heavy or tiresome they got. He was content to have his trials there and to show the marks of them to others because God's word showed him that in times of trial, his weakness showed most, and God's power shined greatest — and that was a good thing. HumilityFinally, his humility was there because of God's word, not his skill. God's word, not his eloquence. God's word, not his work ethic. God's word, not man, was able to guard these followers of Jesus so that they kept on as followers of Jesus even in the midst of the battle. He says, verse 32,“And now [that I'm leaving, and false teachers are coming…] I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and give to you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” What enabled three years-worth of humble service to the Ephesians? The fact that he knew the power for his ministry was not in himself, but in God through his word.Brothers and sisters, go back to that young man or young woman who you had in your mind just a bit ago. The one who is just a bit younger, a bit further behind you in their walk with Jesus.What if you were to begin discipling them today? What if you were to begin gladly and purposefully seeking to help them follow Jesus by speaking God's word to them, and living God's word before them, this week? And what if, after you kept at it for three years, they were not impressed by you?Like, what if, as you discipled them, there came moments when you didn't have the answers, but were willing to seek them out alongside that person? And, what if, as you discipled them, it became apparent that even you are not yet totally sanctified, but are hoping to grow in sanctification alongside them? And what if, as you discipled them, there were no fireworks, and no fanfare, and no accolades, but instead, a thousand little moments, filled with the unimpressive and ordinary stuff, of speaking God's word to that person, and living God's word out before them?What if you did that? Well, then you would then be doing exactly what Jesus has commanded you to do. Making disciples, and then helping them to follow Jesus by teaching them to observe (to live out) all that he has commanded them. Cities Church, you can do this. You can help others to follow Jesus. With Bibles open, you can speak the word. With front doors open, you can live the word. With the desire to impress behind you, and humility flowing out from among you, and even with trials raging all round you, and tears welling up within you —You can help others to follow Jesus. And one last, quick word before we close. Cities Church, not only can you do this, but you can do so generously. Do So GenerouslyVerse 35, final word,“In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.'”Do you see it? Jesus said, that it is more not less, but more blessed — more happy, more joy-producing, more delight-inducing — more blessed to give than to receive. To give than to withhold. To give and expend yourself for the good of others, rather than preserve yourself the supposed good of self. We don't want to be begrudging disciplers. We don't want to be exacting disciplers. We don't want to be duty-driven disciplers. Jesus tells us we should want to be generous disciplers because it is not less, but more blessed to give. The TableNow, what brings us to the table this morning is the fact that Jesus did not call his disciples to himself begrudgingly. He did not teach them his word disinterestedly. He did not cover up, but unfolded his life before them. And on the night he was betrayed, seated among his disciples, he invited them generously — take and eat, this is my body given for you. This table is Jesus' table. A fellowship meal for all who profess faith in him.

This week we are presenting a special episode to you. Several years ago Andrew Davies, a long-time friend of Media Gratiae and contributor to our Behold Your God studies, visited New Albany, MS. While he was here we asked him to read select sermons preached during the Great Awakening. One of those sermons was originally preached by William Chalmer Burns. Burns was a contemporary of Andrew Bonar and Robert Murray M'Cheyne in Scotland. Because of his godliness, he was offered a number of offices in large churches but turned each one down because he had on his heart to preach the gospel in China. He saw very little fruit there, but took the opportunity to mentor a young missionary by the name of Hudson Taylor. If you are unfamiliar with the work of Taylor, you can search through our archives as we have mentioned him multiple times throughout our podcasts. We also highly recommend his two-volume biography and will put a link to it below. We pray this sermon is a blessing to you. Show Notes: Hudson Taylor Biography - https://www.davidsonpublishing.org/hudson-taylor.html Want to listen to The Whole Counsel on the go? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast app: https://www.mediagratiae.org/podcasts You can get The Whole Counsel a day early on the Media Gratiae App: https://subsplash.com/mediagratiae/app

During the gold rush of the 1800's, men packed up their families and moved out west in search of treasure. Friends and family may have thought them crazy for taking such risks on the small chance of riches. But no one would have faulted the same men if they suddenly found a vein of gold and refused to eat or sleep until they have dug to the end of that vein. When it comes to studying Scripture, it is helpful to think of it as digging in a mine. We go where others have found treasure before, trusting that we will find it as well. But there is one major difference between those who mine the Scriptures and those who mine for gold: we are guaranteed a reward for our efforts. God is the author of Scripture and the same Holy Spirit that worked in the lives of its human authors is living and working in every believer. But that does not mean the work of reading, studying, interpreting, and applying will be easy. As you do the hard work of studying and praying, keep the end goal in mind. God's ultimate purpose is not that you would have the ability, like the Puritans, to write multiple volumes on one verse of Scripture. God's purpose in your life is for you to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. Let that aim, that goal, that purpose, be the fuel that prevents you from stopping short and getting lazy. Follow the example of Martin Luther said that he would beat against the Scriptures until he wrung our every drop of truth and application from its pages. Show Notes: Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment by Jeremiah Burroughs https://banneroftruth.org/us/store/christian-living/the-rare-jewel-of-christian-contentment/ Want to listen to The Whole Counsel on the go? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast app: https://www.mediagratiae.org/podcasts You can get The Whole Counsel a day early on the Media Gratiae App: https://subsplash.com/mediagratiae/app

In this week's episode, Dr. John Snyder and Teddy James engage in an imaginative discussion. What if we could bring back masters in their fields like J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, George Whitefield, Albert Einstein, or Hudson Taylor to teach us in Northeast Mississippi? If they were to offer tutoring near our homes, we'd do whatever necessary to be present and prepared to learn from them. As previously discussed, wisdom has called out to us. God Himself has promised to teach us His word. Sadly, we often approach Scripture unprepared, uninterested, and unwelcoming. Yet, there's no greater privilege in human life than meeting with our Creator. Therefore, we must come to Scripture filled with prayer, crying out to the One who is willing and able to teach us all we need to know. But how do we read and study well? John provides helpful tips on approaching personal Bible study. He and Teddy then discuss how to pray while studying Scripture to maximize its impact on our pursuit of holiness. We'll delve deeper into this subject next week. Resources mentioned: Hendrickson Commentaries https://www.accordancebible.com/product/bakers-hendriksen-kistemaker-nt-commentary-12-volumes/ New International Commentaries Old Testament: https://www.christianbook.com/page/academic/bible-commentaries/nicot?srsltid=AfmBOorKYTUSA9vqpFT4J28fPCsHtRUqdWc4Y6KgJKScSgsH33N0UkaS New Testament: https://www.christianbook.com/apps/easyfind?Ntt=nicnt&Ntk=keywords&action=Search&Ne=0&event=ESRCQ&nav_search=1&cms=1&ps_exit=KEYWORD|legacy&ps_domain=www&aq=NIC Geneva Commentaries: https://banneroftruth.org/us/store/series/geneva-series-of-commentaries/ John MacArthuer commentaries: https://www.gty.org/store/macarthurcommentaries Welwyn Commentaries: https://us.10ofthose.com/series/welwyn-commentary-series Want to listen to The Whole Counsel on the go? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast app: https://www.mediagratiae.org/podcasts You can get The Whole Counsel a day early on the Media Gratiae App: https://subsplash.com/mediagratiae/app

This week, Dr. John Snyder and Teddy James continue our series on Proverbs 2, examining our biblical response to wisdom. As a refresher, we've explored what it means to welcome wisdom into our lives, treasure her, and turn our ears to her. Now, we focus on how we can incline our hearts to wisdom. Inclining our hearts is an active exercise. We'll never achieve this if we approach wisdom lazily. The heart must be moved by the will. Just as a relationship can grow cold without effort, our spiritual lives will wither if we don't actively and regularly warm our hearts by heeding wisdom's voice. In this episode, John presents 10 definitions of what it means to incline our heart to wisdom: To spread out — Picture a river overflowing its banks in the rainy season. To stretch out or extend — Imagine reaching for something you desperately need. To bend down — Like a worker setting their shoulder under a heavy burden (the heart bends to embrace the task of the Word). To turn aside or swerve — Someone pausing their journey to closely examine something off the path. To plot or scheme — Desiring something and realizing it requires careful planning. To be inclined to a certain view — When a strong opinion manifests in your daily life and conversations. To be won over — Being convinced of something's value and inclining toward it. To engage in a new relationship — Think of a honeymoon and the heart's enthrallment at the start of a marriage. To stay or remain — The heart finding a sweet resting spot (John 15). No longer running to find happiness, but abiding in Christ. To be enticed — In this context, it's the pleasing experience of meeting God in His Word, drawing us back again and again. We challenge you, as we did in the podcast, to write these definitions on a bookmark and keep them nearby as you read Scripture. Choose one and pray over it. Ask God to win you over to holiness, help you remain in Christ's reality, or entice you with Jesus' beauty. Incorporate this into your Bible reading this week. Resources mentioned: Proverbs 4:23 Luke 6:45 Jeremiah 15:16 John Flavel - Keeping the Heart https://www.wtsbooks.com/products/keeping-the-heart-john-flavel-9781845506483?variant=9996757598255 Want to listen to The Whole Counsel on the go? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast app: https://www.mediagratiae.org/podcasts You can get The Whole Counsel a day early on the Media Gratiae App: https://subsplash.com/mediagratiae/app

A few weeks ago, we had Jeremy Walker on The Whole Counsel, and he introduced us to an organization in Zambia called Hope Project. This ministry works to take children off the streets and provide them with four pillars of support: physical, emotional, educational, and spiritual. We were so moved by Hope Project's work and ministry that we wanted to have its founder, Gilbert Mulubwa, on the podcast so he could speak directly to you. We invited Jeremy back to help us cover all our bases. Because were having a conversation on three continents, we had to overcome some technical difficulties with the audio and video quality, which was not up to our usual standard. We appreciate your patience with that. We encourage you to see the show notes for more information about the Hope Project, including how you can sponsor a child. While you're there, don't forget to check out the video produced by Hope Project. Show Notes You can reach out directly to Hope Project by emailing Info@care4kidshopeproject.com care4kidshopeproject.com Want to listen to The Whole Counsel on the go? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast app: https://www.mediagratiae.org/podcasts You can get The Whole Counsel a day early on the Media Gratiae App: https://subsplash.com/mediagratiae/app

Are you listening? It is a common refrain of parents to children, teachers to students, etc. But it is an incredibly important question to us to ask ourselves when it comes to wisdom's voice. As our highlighted instruction tells us, we must be actively listening, bending our ears, or making sure our ears are cleaned out, to hear her voice. The battle for truly listening to God's voice is a constant one that is fought on multiple fronts. We must realize that we live in a world filled with distractions. Furthermore, we have to keep in mind that we have an enemy who seeks to distract us. Lastly, we have a internal will that wants to distract us. With so much stacked against every Christian, it takes the work of God in our souls to make us listen attentively to His voice. So do not fall for the lie of self sufficiency and believe you can just make yourself try harder. It takes the work of God. So come out of the wilderness leaning on your Beloved. Show Notes: God Tells a Man Who Cares by A. W. Tozer - https://awtozer.com/books/god-tells-the-man-who-cares Want to listen to The Whole Counsel on the go? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast app: https://www.mediagratiae.org/podcasts You can get The Whole Counsel a day early on the Media Gratiae App: https://subsplash.com/mediagratiae/app

There are treasures that are placed in safety-deposit boxes, rarely seen and more rarely used. Then there are things we treasure that are used every day, and the more worn and scarred they become, the more precious they are to us. Wisdom should be seen in the second category. It is a thing to be truly treasured by the Christian, but if it is left on the shelf and collects dust, it is worthless. We must use God's wisdom in every aspect of life. We must welcome it in, as Dr. John Snyder and Teddy James discussed last week in our series, but we must also treasure it. This sounds like a very spiritual thing to do. We know we should appreciate wisdom, but to treasure it? To the average person, that sounds like something only academics or the spiritual giants of the past could do. But this command isn't given just to them. It is delivered by our King to us, the common, ordinary Christian. And we must obey. But we don't live on an island. A healthy Christian is living in a community of other believers, and so we must help others treasure it as well. John and Teddy also give some commentary on how we can help church members and our family members walk down this path of answering Wisdom's call. Show Notes: Colossians 3 1 Thessalonians 2:13 Psalm 119 Want to listen to The Whole Counsel on the go? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast app: https://www.mediagratiae.org/podcasts A Way to Pray by Matthew Henry - https://banneroftruth.org/us/store/christian-living/way-to-pray/ Dr. Beeke's sermon on Church and Family Life Conference - https://churchandfamilylife.com/resources/65bd3672fbd7d4eaadeacd07 You can get The Whole Counsel a day early on the Media Gratiae App: https://subsplash.com/mediagratiae/app

See more podcasts, small group studies, and theological studies for children at www.mediagratiae.org. Last week, we introduced our new series examining the metaphors Proverbs 2:1-5 gives us for responding to the call of wisdom. The first metaphor the writer of Proverbs gives us is to receive, or take, wisdom. This is not a passive reception; it requires intentionality, purpose, and effort. Dr. John Snyder and Teddy James focus on two primary applications. The first is to take the word of God into every area of life. We must apply God's truth to our minds, thoughts, imaginations, relationships, stewardship, worship, and more. To receive God's Word means to give it full access to every closet, drawer, and dark corner of our lives. The second application is equally important. We must take care to receive every part of God's Word. We must fight the temptation to only dwell in our favorite books or passages. All of Scripture is given to us by our King, and it is all necessary for the complete Christian life. So this week, put forth the effort, do the work, and take wisdom into your life. Next week, we will look at treasuring Wisdom's commands. Show Notes: 1 Thessalonians 1 &2 James 1:22-23 Acts 17:11 Philippians 2:3 Zephaniah 3:16 Want to listen to The Whole Counsel on the go? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast app: https://www.mediagratiae.org/podcasts You can get The Whole Counsel a day early on the Media Gratiae App: https://subsplash.com/mediagratiae/app

See Media Gratiae resources including, Behold Your God: Seeking Him Early, Behold Your God: Rethinking God Biblically, Christ Our Treasure, and more: https://shop.mediagratiae.org Proverbs 1 tells us that “Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice.” Religious systems throughout history have taught wisdom as something often hidden and difficult to find. But Proverbs clearly tells us the opposite. Wisdom is shouting in the busiest part of the city, calling out to anyone willing to listen. The problem isn't the availability of wisdom; it's our willingness to hear her. The writer of Proverbs gives us great insight not only into the call of wisdom but also the response every Christian should have to her call. This is what we will discuss over the next seven episodes. Dr. John Snyder is joined by Teddy James in this new series focusing on our response to wisdom's call. In this introductory episode, we focus on what that call is and what we must do if we have rejected God's call for years. A life that walks closely with wisdom is a happy life, blessed by the presence of God. The life that rejects wisdom is filled with calamity, and God will laugh as calamity strikes. Does this make God mean and vindictive? Quite the opposite. It is out of love that God warns of this reality. We will reap what we sow. If we sow selfishness and self-rule, we will reap destruction. If we sow humble obedience to Christ, we will reap His righteousness. That leaves us all with one question: How long? For the Christian, how long will we dull our ears to wisdom's call before coming to repentance and walking closely with Christ? For the unbeliever, how long will you resist God's gracious call to follow Him? The good news is that if you can read Scripture and hear God's call, it is not too late for you. Listen today, obey today, repent today. Next week, we will begin looking at the first of six practical steps Proverbs gives us to respond to wisdom's call. Show Notes: See Media Gratiae resources including Behold Your God: Seeking Him Early, Behold Your God: Rethinking God Biblically, Christ Our Treasure, and more: https://shop.mediagratiae.org Want to listen to The Whole Counsel on the go? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast app: https://www.mediagratiae.org/podcasts You can get The Whole Counsel a day early on the Media Gratiae App: https://subsplash.com/mediagratiae/app

This week, we conclude our series on the union between Jesus Christ and the Christian. We've explored several aspects of this union and now reach its apex—the culmination of everything. However, to fully grasp it, we must first correct some common misunderstandings. Many Christians believe that once we die, we enter into our glorified state. Dr. John Snyder and Acey Floyd held similar views until they studied the topic in-depth and discovered that Scripture teaches something different. This distinction is crucial because a wrong understanding can lead us to see glorification as an isolated reality in the Christian life. It isn't. It is interconnected with every other aspect of the Christian's union with Christ and the Father's promises to the Son. Seeing glorification as part of these broader realities, rather than as an individualistic event, can significantly impact our assurance of salvation, our pursuit of sanctification, our confidence that God will conquer sin in our lives, and more. Throughout this series, we have recommended John Murray's Redemption Accomplished and Applied. As we conclude, we want to highlight it once more. If you haven't read it yet, we highly encourage you to do so. You can find the link below. Show Notes: Communion with God by John Owen https://banneroftruth.org/us/store/christian-living/communion-with-god/ Want to listen to The Whole Counsel on the go? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast app: https://www.mediagratiae.org/podcasts You can get The Whole Counsel a day early on the Media Gratiae App: https://subsplash.com/mediagratiae/app See the Media Gratiae resource mentioned here: https://shop.mediagratiae.org/collections/all-products-1

Our current series has focused on our union with Christ, with the last few episodes emphasizing our adoption. In the last episode, Dr. John Snyder and Acey Floyd explored the biblical foundation for our adoption in Christ. This week, they examine the privileges available to every Christian because of our adoption. For this, they refer to John Owen's small work “Communion with God.” While the entire book is a treasure, they focus on chapter 17 in this episode. In these pages, Owen discusses what we have access to because of our relationship with Jesus and some of the objective realities that should appear in the life of a Christian. Show Notes: Communion with God by John Owen https://banneroftruth.org/us/store/christian-living/communion-with-god/ Want to listen to The Whole Counsel on the go? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast app: https://www.mediagratiae.org/podcasts You can get The Whole Counsel a day early on the Media Gratiae App: https://subsplash.com/mediagratiae/app