Podcasts about your bible

Daily Dose of Hope May 15, 2025 Day 4 of Week 7   Scripture – Mark 16:1-8   Prayer: Holy God, On this Thursday morning, we lift up our face to you.  We call upon your name.  You are the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.  You are almighty and wise.  How thankful we are that you sit high and look low.  Lord, forgive us for our many sins and faults.  Give us strength and courage to do better.  And, as we begin to talk about the resurrection, Lord, help us live like new people.  We give you this day, Lord.  Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we begin Mark 16, the resurrection story.  We are covering the first portion of Mark 16, the Scripture that is original to the Gospel.  This is the part that has authority.  Tomorrow, we will cover the portion of the chapter that was added by scholars several hundred years later.    But before we dig in, let's talk context.   Jesus was crucified on a Friday because the Jews had to have it done and over with before Sabbath (which for them runs from Friday sundown to Saturday sundown).  Thus, the women who wanted to anoint Jesus' body for burial had to wait until the Sabbath was over before heading over to the tomb.     Three women are specifically mentioned: Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome.  I want to point out that these women were also mentioned at being present at the crucifixion.  They watched Jesus die.  I want you to think about how the reality of suffering and intense grief is hanging over this whole scene. These were women who walked alongside Jesus, took care of his needs, and loved him.  It is because they loved him that they wanted to ensure that his dead body was properly prepared for burial.  Jews did not embalm but they ceremonially washed the body, wrapped it in cloths, and used herbs and spices to help with deterioration and smell.  In that culture, a proper burial was quite important, it demonstrated honor for that individual; for these women, this was an act of love and respect.   As they head over to prepare the body, they discuss what they think will be their biggest obstacle and decide it's going to be the heavy stone.  They were at the crucifixion.  They knew that a large stone was rolled in front of the tomb.  How will they move it?  What's interesting to me here is that they have no inkling that the tomb would be empty.  Jesus has taught about his death and resurrection but no one got it.    Now, when they get to the tomb and the stone was the least of their worries. It had already been rolled away.  When they entered the tomb, it's completely empty except for a young man dressed in a white robe just sitting there.  Mark doesn't say so, but it's implied this man is an angel.  The scripture says the women are alarmed.  They have been so consumed by their grief and suffering, so focused on taking care of this final act for Jesus, and then the stone is gone and there is this angel-like character sitting inside the tomb.  Of course they are alarmed.  And this man/angel person tells them that Jesus wasn't there because he had risen, just as he said he would. This is all a bit much for these ladies. They were scared.  They flee and say nothing to anyone. And the book of Mark ends.   Over the years, people have added more appealing endings to this Gospel, which we will address tomorrow.  Your Bible probably notes that anything after verse 8 was added later on.  It's usually in italics.  But this is the thing:  Mark's Gospel may feel a bit unsatisfying in how it so abruptly ends, it also creates a sense of anticipation and yes, even HOPE.  We don't have to make up fake endings for Mark like some of the church fathers may have done.     What Mark tells us is enough.  Why? Because the tomb was empty!  Jesus was resurrected.  Because death could not keep Jesus down!  Death was defeated.  Because the women were given the message to “Go and tell, Jesus is risen!”  Because all the promises that Jesus made have come true.  Every single one.   Just as Jesus said, he suffered, died, and was raised.  Just as he said, Judas betrayed him, the disciples scattered, and Peter denied him.  We know that eventually these women speak and they must speak a lot.  Because the message was shared.  After they get over their initial shock, it all begins to sink in. Yes, Jesus had told them this would happen. Yes, they would choose to believe and share the good news.  He wasn't dead but alive!  They chose to believe and share.   Will you?  Will you share the Good News of the resurrection?   Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

Psalms 119:11Your Bible reading will be transformed if in your time with the Lord daily you personalize the passage of Scripture. Memorizing, mixed with personalizing, will enable you to analyze.

On This Week at Charlestown Road, Jason and Roger revisit Sunday morning's sermon, “Life Lessons From the First Pages of Your Bible,” digging deeper into what we can learn from the very beginning of God's written revelation to mankind.

Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/354059/episodes/16801279-16-03-25-citizens-of-heaven-dave-watmoreCitizenship of heavenPhilippians 3 v 20 + Philippians 4 v 4-9Look at the first page of your passport.Why am I telling you this story? It is not about the power of my prayers but you can think that. No it is about the peace that comes from being a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven.Philippians 3 v 20.It made me think.I'm a UK citizen but now I'm born again, I'm now a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus is the King and the Lord of heaven.So let's look at that;I was listening to an interview with Rishi Sunak and Nick Robinson and Sunak tells of his meetings with the king and how he found them helpful. I'm sure he did. It is always good to have a friendly conversation with someone you know is helpful towards you.I don't remember the king or queen calling me up when I was made redundant or comforting me when my children were so upset and ringing me a 3 o'clock in the morning. I'll be honest. I didn't expect them to. They don't know me. They have no relationship with me. They are just humans, weak and sinful like me.I do remember Jesus giving me a dream to prepare me before I was made redundant and a promise that he would always provide for me.I do remember Jesus comforting and giving me words to help my son and comfort me at a very dark time.I love being a citizen of the UK. I cheer when England play sport, I love our countryside and our culture and language but I am also a citizen of Heaven.When I lost my passport, I lost my way back to my home and my family. Part of me lost my peace but I also knew that the King of kings and Lord of lords was with me. He would run towards me to help me in my distress.Isaiah 26 v 3I have a new allegiance and much more powerful King who happens to have created the heavens and the Earth and all that is in it.When I have that in my heart I have to change too.Philippian 4 v 4-9.V 8. Fix your thoughts on what is good.We live in a Kingdom where Jesus is King and Lord. He does not want you to fill your mind or body with things that are bad for you.When we read or watch or think on the wrong things, it is like putting petrol in a diesel engine. We might do it by accident but it still needs to be cleared out, otherwise we don't fire correctly or we create a lot of black smoke of anger, unforgiveness, etc..You have been bought with a high price because He loves you. There is no other explanation for why you are saved or why you are here today. He wants a relationship with you. Not like the one you have with king Charles or Keir Starmer or your boss at work, He was and can give you an intimate relationship. Sometimes when we feel far away from Him, anxious, frightened and lost He will say “look at my word, you are now a citizen of Heaven not of the UK”Questions;Your Bible has far more promises about your identify, your destination and your well being than your UK passport. Tell each other scriptures that have helped you in the past. Encourage those who don't have that experience, the scripture that can help them.How do you remember to magnify who Jesus is when you are feeling small and alone?If appropriate, tell each other or a on a one to one basis, the struggles you might have with things you know are wrong to watch or read etc..Encourage repentance but exercise forgiveness especially

On the next Treasured Truth, Pastor Ford will continue to encourage us about how we can overcome temptation. He’ll explain how no one is exempt from temptation. The Bible says, “…let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” Your Bible knowledge is not going to exempt you. Your service, or your singing in the choir, or your giving is not going to exempt you. So, this is a warning to those who consider themselves “super saints”—the people who say, “It won’t happen to me.” None of us should ever say that, since we can’t know in advance what we will or will not do. To learn more from Pastor Ford about how you can become victorious over temptation, be sure to join us for the next Treasured Truth. Treasured Truth is a listener supported program on Moody Radio. To join our team of supporters, click here. To learn more about Pastor James Ford, Jr., click here. To learn more about Treasured Truth, click here.Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/treasuredtruthSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Greg recommends creating a habit of Bible reading this year, then he answers questions about attending a mandatory equity training, practices for doing a deep dive into a smaller portion of Scripture, and the Christian view of rewards versus the Mormon view of levels of Heaven.   Topics: Commentary: Create a habit of Bible reading this year. (00:00) Do you think it's a good idea to go ahead and attend an employer's mandatory equity training as an educational experience? (13:00) Can you recommend any practices for doing a deep dive into a smaller portion of Scripture? (30:00) How does the Christian view of rewards in Heaven compare with the Mormon belief about different levels of Heaven based on one's performance in this life? (43:00)   Mentioned on the Show:  Navigators Book-at-a-Time Bible Reading Plan (for an iOS app where you can click off the boxes digitally as you read each chapter, see Bible Box) STR U Online Training   Related Links: You Want to Be a Good Apologist? by Amy Hall (on reading through the Bible) A Long-Term Plan to Know Your Bible by Amy Hall The Simple Way to Know and Be Shaped by Your Bible by Amy Hall James Gray on Mastering the Bible by Fred Sanders The Rewards of Memorizing a Book of the Bible by Amy Hall Tips for Memorizing a Book of the Bible by Amy Hall Martyn Lloyd-Jones's sermon series on Romans (also available in the Martyn Lloyd-Jones app) Romans 14-Volume Set by Martyn Lloyd-Jones Two Theological Misunderstandings behind Objections to Deathbed Conversions by Amy Hall

Can you become what you read? If the world controls our thinking, we are conformers; if God controls our thinking we are transformers. If we read and study the Word of God, memorize it, and make it a part of our inner selves, God will gradually make our minds more spiritual. Your Bible is your basic instructions before leaving Earth! Blessings, Presiding Elder Barbara Hayes The Wiersbe Bible

Europe has a dark and violent history. Your Bible says this history is about to repeat itself! The slumbering beast is awakening in Europe, and you can see it if you know where to look. “Party Founded By SS Officers Wins in Austria” “WHY THE TRUMPET WATCHES … Europe's Ongoing Unification Project” Germany and the Holy Roman Empire

Your Bible is full of stories about people receiving their healings. This episode focuses on those background characters who played a supporting role in someone else's miracle. You'll soon realize that the helping hands are important, and were noticed by Jesus.   #KingdomSpeak  #Podcast #Miracles

Your Bible describes an unnamed prophet who will prepare the way for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. This man is on the scene today! Learn how to prove the identity of ‘that prophet'.

Your Bible describes an unnamed prophet who will prepare the way for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. This man is on the scene today! Learn how to prove the identity of ‘that prophet'.

Your Bible describes an unnamed prophet who will prepare the way for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. This man is on the scene today! Learn how to prove the identity of ‘that prophet'.

In this episode of the If You Mark in Your Bible podcast, Josh and Jeff Tucker discuss Ezekiel chapter 37, verses 1-10. The passage focuses on the restoration of the nation of Israel from Babylonian captivity. The vision of the dry bones represents the bleak state of Israel at the time, but God promises to bring them back to life. The hand of the Lord and the spirit of the Lord are mentioned, symbolizing divine authority. The chapter emphasizes God's sovereignty and the importance of recognizing it. The breath of life represents the restoration of the nation, and the vision ends with the image of an exceedingly great army.TakeawaysGod promises to bring Israel back to life and restore the nation from Babylonian captivity.The vision of the dry bones represents the bleak state of Israel at the time.The hand of the Lord and the spirit of the Lord symbolize divine authority and sovereignty.The breath of life represents the restoration of the nation.The vision ends with the image of an exceedingly great army.00:00 Introduction and Background03:10 The Vision of the Dry Bones09:50 Divine Authority and Sovereignty20:00 The Breath of Life27:21 Restoring the Nation33:05 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsIF YOU MARK IN YOUR BIBLE PODCASTWebsite: www.iymiyb.comFacebook: www.facebook.com/iymiybInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/iymiyb/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iymiyb?sub_confirmation=1Email: josh@biblemarkings.comTHE SCATTERED ABROAD NETWORKVisit our linktree: https://linktr.ee/scatteredabroadnetwork Visit our website, www.scatteredabroad.org, and subscribe to our email list. "Like" and "share" our Facebook page: https:// www.facebook.com/sapodcastnetwork Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ the_scattered_abroad_network/ Subscribe to our Substack: https://scatteredabroad.substack.com/Subscribe to our YouTube channel: The Scattered Abroad Network Contact us through email at san@msop.org. If you would like to consider supporting us in any way, don't hesitate to contact us through this email.

The word “Armageddon” is often used to describe earth-destroying dangers. This March 2024 edition of Astronomy magazine features this cover Headline: “COSMIC CATASTROPHES, How the Universe threatens life on earth,” p. 18, “The Universe is a terrifying place, filled with existential threats. Earth may seem quite solid beneath our feet, but the continued existence of the thin layers of rock, water, and air that sustain us is in no way guaranteed. Errant asteroids, soaring superflares, and exploding supernovae are just a few of the calamities that might befall our fragile world. In the short term, we may be able to manage or mitigate some of these threats. Asteroids can be diverted and power grids hardened. But other apocalypses are inevitable as the solar system ages: a runaway Moon, Earth's collapsing magnetosphere, the Sun's flagging heart. Each one represents a countdown to a different apocalypse, with some more imminent than others” (“These are the ways our world will end,” Astronomy.com, March 1, 2024). Your Bible confirms such cosmic dangers when the prophesied heavenly signs will terrify humans all over the earth. How will the great men and women react? Revelation 6:15, “And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?'” (Revelation 6:15–17). Yes, my friends, Bible prophecy reveals dramatic dangers just ahead of us, but also the good news of God's coming Kingdom ruled by the Messiah, Jesus Christ, as King of kings and Lord of lords. Surprisingly, when Jesus Christ returns, all the world's armies and powerful worldly military might will fight against the coming conquering King in the battle of Armageddon. On today's program, we'll be offering an amazing free study guide, ARMAGEDDON AND BEYOND, to help you understand what is ahead for planet Earth. Join us on today's program and learn who will win the Battle of Armageddon!

2 Peter 1:12-21 | Jesus is the Messiah and Your Bible is True by Calvary Chapel Lynchburg

The Good News in Your Bible is for You and for You to Share

Send us a Text Message. What if you had 7 simple questions at your fingertips to help you bring the Bible to life as you read it? Here with us again is Keith Ferrin, Your Bible coach. Many of us struggle to read or understand the Bible. Keith is passionate about helping you enjoy your Bible, I can't wait for you to hear from him! You can fill out the interest form for A New Song Life Group, HERE Stay Connected with Keith and grab one of his courses. He is offering our listeners two courses for the price of one! Relational Bible Study – My Bible study course (www.keithferrin.com/rbs)Simplest Way to Internalize – My internalization/memorization course (www.keithferrin.com/internalize)Here's a link that will give you BOTH courses for the price of one: https://www.keithferrin.com/offers/eYt8STPU?coupon_code=DENISHA That link will automatically apply your coupon code. Follow Keith for more great tools! Website – www.keithferrin.comYouTube – www.youtube.com/keithferrinInstagram - www.instagram.com/keithferrinFacebook - www.facebook.com/keithferrinPinterest - www.pinterest.com/keithferrinLinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/keithferrinTwitter/X - www.twitter.com/keithferrinHere are two FREE Ebooks for you! 1. Shame Off You: 10 steps to shattering shame in your life, HERE. 2. ABC's: CLICK HERE for a FREE E-book to help you combat lies and replace them with God's truth. For more encouragement, check out some of our offerings at www.reclaimedstory.comDid you know we have a jewelry line that speaks to your identity in Jesus? CLICK HERE to shop. Every purchase helps support our mission to provide healing and hope to women worldwide. Would you partner with us to spread the message of hope and healing? You can DONATE HERE. Living the Reclaimed Life is a Reclaimed Story, Inc. podcast, An Arizona non-profit corporation. If you would like to connect with a safe group of women doing real-life together, join our private Facebook page, “Living the Reclaimed Life” or on Facebook or Instagram

Your Bible foretells the imminent breakaway of Syria from Iran and Russia. Prove where and when Syria will seek a new alliance—and how the whole world will be rocked by this dramatic shift in geopolitics.

Your Bible foretells the imminent breakaway of Syria from Iran and Russia. Prove where and when Syria will seek a new alliance—and how the whole world will be rocked by this dramatic shift in geopolitics.

Your Bible foretells the imminent breakaway of Syria from Iran and Russia. Prove where and when Syria will seek a new alliance—and how the whole world will be rocked by this dramatic shift in geopolitics.

Billions of people around the world pray memorized prayers. But do they get answers to their prayers? Do you get answers to YOUR prayers? Are prayers just talking to ourselves? Or is there a real God who answers prayer? Are there practical keys and strategies for answered prayer? Your Bible gives practical keys to answered prayer. Our free study guide, TWELVE KEYS TO ANSWERED PRAYER, will help inspire your prayer life and help change your life for the better. Be sure to write down the contact information to order your free copy. Jesus' disciples asked Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.” That's in Luke 11:1. Jesus then gave them the model prayer or the outline prayer. Perhaps you have memorized it and repeat it often. But do you pray with meaning? You need to know five keys for answered prayer. You can have an amazing and abundant life following these keys from your Bible!

Your Bible foretells a villainous alliance between Germany and the moderate Arab nations in this end time. The main purpose of this alliance is to destroy the modern descendants of ancient Israel! Understand what must soon happen in world events to bring this deadly alliance together

Your Bible foretells a villainous alliance between Germany and the moderate Arab nations in this end time. The main purpose of this alliance is to destroy the modern descendants of ancient Israel! Understand what must soon happen in world events to bring this deadly alliance together

Your Bible reveals the future of the world and the future of the universe. There is coming a time when this planet Earth will be purified with fire. It will become a new earth. The earth will then host a heavenly city, the New Jerusalem, coming down from heaven to planet Earth! The mysterious book of Revelation tells us in REVELATION 21:1, “Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.” But will YOU be alive to enjoy that new earth and the New Jerusalem? My friends, God has planned a glorious future for those who love Him and have surrendered their lives to our Savior, Jesus Christ. You can learn more about the future from the free study guide we're offering today, Revelation: The Mystery Unveiled! Be sure to write down the contact information to order your free copy! What can you do to enjoy the New Jerusalem and the reality of a glorious future? Join us on today's program: THE NEW JERUSALEM.

Perhaps no figure looms larger in our prophesied future than the ANTICHRIST. Your Bible is clear that he IS coming, and that a level of destruction, persecution, and death arrive with him--such as the world has never seen before or will ever see again. And there is cause to believe that he is alive TODAY--certainly, his tools of deception are ALREADY in place and ALREADY impact the lives of most who consider themselves “Christian” today. Will you be among the few to recognize him when he steps onto the world stage? Most won't--but you can. Join us for this episode of Tomorrow's World, as we reveal Seven Signs of the End-Time Antichrist!

Our planet and all our nations are faced with natural disasters, famine, earthquakes, wars, and total destruction. We even see the word “Armageddon” appearing in news headlines. Will we soon experience World War III? Will the world soon experience Armageddon? On today's program, we'll be offering you a free study guide that will answer those questions. It's titled ARMAGEDDON AND BEYOND. Be sure to write down the contact information to order your free copy! The 1998 popular movie “Armageddon” portrayed an incoming asteroid the size of Texas that would destroy all life on earth. NASA recruits a team of oil drillers to save the world. Perhaps you have seen that sobering movie. Are we today in danger of incoming earth-destroying asteroids? Astronomy.com describes the meteor that exploded over Siberia in 2013: “On February 15, 2013, a small asteroid, perhaps measuring 20 meters across, came down over the southern Urals of Russia, barreling in at about 19 km/s, and exploded over Chelyabinsk Oblast, near the town of Chelyabinsk. With a mass greater than that of the Eiffel Tower, the asteroid exploded in an airburst, unleashing energy equal to about 500 kilotons of TNT, some 20 or 30 times the energy released in the Hiroshima atomic explosion.” (“Why the asteroid threat should be taken seriously,” Astronomy.com) Continuing the report, author David J. Eicher describes the dangers we face today: “The risk from asteroids impacting Earth and causing widespread damage, death, and catastrophe is real, and is present every day of our lives. But it is to a degree a counterintuitive threat, which makes it hard for some people to take seriously. The risk at any given moment is almost nonexistent, but given enough time, a catastrophic event will happen again. Do we need to worry about an asteroid strike during our next foray out to lunch? Probably not. But someday a large enough asteroid with Earth's name on it will enter the picture, causing horror and mayhem for humanity. Unless we do something about it, that is.” (ibid.) Your Bible reveals future astronomical events as well as major military conflicts. Revelation the sixth chapter describes cosmic disturbances: “And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place.” (Revelation 6:13-14). The movie “Armageddon” used the title to depict the cataclysmic end-of-the world danger described in your Bible. Bible scholars describe Armageddon as the final battle between good and evil. Who will win that battle? Will the world survive Armageddon? And will you be able to escape “Armageddon”? Stay tuned!

The most important gift you can receive is that of Jesus. God, our heavenly father, sent his one and only begotten Son to live amongst us and to die for our sins so we could know eternal life! The Bible tells us that Jesus is The Word. When you read scripture, you're taking in Jesus. Your Bible is the Living Word of Jesus. Allow this week's message to challenge you to read your Bible with new understanding and purpose! - Enjoy this message from Real Church located in Pinehurst, Texas with pastor David Crowson. Real Church exists to create real disciples of Jesus! #realchurch #realchurchpinehurst #realchurchtomball #realchurchmagnolia #God #Jesus #church #message #sermon #thebible #scripture #gift

In today's episode of the Atheist Experience, Jim Barrows and Armin Navabi battle the problem with evil, as they commit blasphemy right after discovering that only men have the breath of life because ideas must be real. Mike in SC asks about free will and the problem of evil. Is violating someone's freewill the only way to prevent someone from doing something bad? Is it rational to believe in things for which you have no evidence? How do you know that the eyewitness testimonies presented in the Bible are not just part of the story? If god is omnipotent, why do people have to burn for not believing? How is the Bible a guide for life if it can't even get the answer for what we can and can't eat right? Can you provide evidence without just repeating what you are saying? Are all the ancient gods that changed cultures and performed miracles real?Michael in GA asks why atheists say that a baby is not a person before it takes its first breath. He also believes that only men have the breath of life since god breathed into a man, not a woman. Your Bible does not even use masculine terminology until after Eve so Adam is gender neutral. Nobody has the right to tell you how to use your body, otherwise we are creating slaves. Bringing up the race of the fetus will do nothing to further your case. In fact, take a wild guess of what that kind of trolling will do for you. Bye!Rami in Hawaii reads out of the Bible as evidence of the holy spirit's presence. Why do you need the holy spirit to attain positive qualities? Why is it okay to blasphemy against Islam by not believing that Mohammed is the profit, but not okay to blasphemy against the holy spirit? We are all going to hell in somebody's religion. You know that right? If god is real, he is a narcissistic monster and should be jailed for crimes against humanity. Is it good or evil to create an organism that is spread by mosquitoes and kills billions of people? Did god create everything including malaria? If we are good people, and do not believe in Jesus, what happens to us when we die?Oliver in the UK asks what right atheists have to question someone else's reality, if ideas are real. Just because an idea is real, does not mean that it is true. What makes you think atheists don't have the right to ask questions? Why would Muslims have the right to say that Allah is real, but don't think that atheists have the right to say that Allah is not real? Thank you as always for tuning in this week. Question of the week is: Why is god really mad at Satan?

The horrifying attacks by Hamas against Israel featured the indiscriminate slaughter of babies. Your Bible has a lot to say about babies being slaughtered in the next world war. You need to understand this sobering warning.

The horrifying attacks by Hamas against Israel featured the indiscriminate slaughter of babies. Your Bible has a lot to say about babies being slaughtered in the next world war. You need to understand this sobering warning.

Join my monthly supporters: www.Patreon.com/OnwardintheFaith One-time donations: PayPal https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/OnwardintheFaith?locale.x=en_US Venmo https://account.venmo.com/u/Ray-Burns-6   Your Bible calls you a "servant of Jesus Christ." We all have idea about what that means, but what does God mean when He says that? How was this word understood 2,000 years ago, and how does that impact how we live today? Join me as we look at a word we may easily overlook and understand why a proper understanding of the word will radically transform our lives.   Series on faith: https://onwardinthefaith.com/biblical-faith-vs-modern-faith/ Satan series on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3FeSsn2 Satan series podcast episodes: https://onwardinthefaith.com/understanding-satan-series/   00:00 Intro 00:35 Words matter 3:25 "Servant" throughout Scripture 7:14 Doulos as servant 8:48 Confronting "doulos" 9:40 "Doulos" as slave 12:08 Important warnings about the word "slave" 16:02 "Slave" in the original context 23:55 Why isn't "doulos" translated as "slave" in most Bibles? 26:58 Which term? 38:28 Our identity in Christ 54:55 Applying it to our lives 1:19:44 Wrap up   Get my books from Amazon! 40 Moments From Christ's Final Days: https://a.co/2N9hWtH 25 Days of Christ in the Old Testament: https://a.co/0zoq8IH   Outro music by LesFM from Pixabay

No one is exempt from temptation. The Bible says, “…let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” Your Bible knowledge is not going to exempt you. Your service, or singing in the choir, or your giving record is not going to exempt you. So, Pastor Ford gives a warning to the super saints—the people who say, “It won’t happen to me.” None of us should ever say that, since we can’t know in advance what we will or will not do.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode is the first of an 8 week series entitled: Your Bible and You. Pastor Nate teaches on the Bible being the only divinely inspired Word of God. Join us for the next 8 weeks to strengthen your faith in God's Word, in its divine authority, and also learn how we can study it more effectively. 

Greg talks to callers about what to say to a skeptic who claims portions of the Gospels were made up to match Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53, whether Hell is something we choose or an enforced punishment, and how to convince another Christian of how important it is to read the Bible and make it part of their life.   Topics: What should I say to a skeptic who claims portions of the Gospels were made up to match Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53? (06:00) Is Hell something we choose (i.e., the doors are “locked on the inside”), or is it a more a matter of just judgment (i.e., like prison)? (28:00) How can I convince another Christian of how important it is to read the Bible and make it part of their life? (44:00) Mentioned on the Show:  God Reforms Hearts: Rethinking Free Will and the Problem of Evil by Thaddeus Williams Confronting Injustice without Compromising Truth: 12 Questions Christians Should Ask About Social Justice by Thaddeus Williams Upcoming events with Stand to Reason speakers Reality Student Apologetics Conference – September 22–23 in Los Angeles, CA; October 13–14 in Seattle, WA; November 10–11 in Minneapolis, MN; February 23–24, 2024 in Dallas, TX; March 22–23, 2024 in Philadelphia, PA; April 19–20, 2024 in Augusta, GA The Story of Reality: How the World Began, How It Ends, and Everything Important that Happens in Between by Greg Koukl Bart Ehrman on the Existence of Jesus by Amy Hall – Video clip of Bart Ehrman Be One of the 100 Related Links: You Want to Be a Good Apologist? by Amy Hall (about reading the Bible) James Gray on Mastering the Bible by Fred Sanders The Simple Way to Know and Be Shaped by Your Bible by Amy Hall

IMITATORS OF GOD: LOVE, SEX, AND THE GLORY OF CHRIST Ephesians 5:1-14 • FCBC • 07/23/23 Good morning church, it is a privilege to be worshipping with you this morning. If you are visiting with us for the first time my name is Ryan and I am the pastor for worship and counseling and one of the elders here at FCBC and I have the privilege of opening up the Word to us this morning. I want to start by simply reading our passage and then we'll jump right in. This morning we're going to be looking at Paul's exhortation to us to be imitators of God in love, sexual integrity. And the temptation I fought this week was just jumping right into what that might look like for us as believers this practically (to just go right for the implications and applications of this text). But I want to pause pretty significantly to unpack that term “Be imitators of God.” What in the world does it even mean to be imitators of God? I wrestled with this exhortation from Paul all week and I think if you can read right over that and go directly to the application and the “how” behind this call to imitate God without even a second thought (or a small mental breakdown), I want to gently but honestly tell you, you have WAY TO HIGH A VIEW OF YOUR SPIRITUAL CAPACITIES AND ABILITIES. Let's go backwards for a bit. We've spent the last five weeks going through the imperatives of chapter 4. As Steve mentioned at the beginning of the book, Ephesians is really broken up into two parts; chapters 1-3 where Paul puts on display the glorious realities of the of the gospel. This is what we've referred to as the indicatives (declarations) that are so predominate in the first 3 chapters of Ephesians. And chapters 4-6 are what a life lived under those glorious realities looks like. We've referred to these as the imperatives or the commands that are so predominate in the last 3 chapters of the book. And so, before we move on, I just want to jog our memory for a moment and go backwards because I think that will serve us well as we get into the 5th chapter of this book. In chapter 1 Paul breaks down the fact that it takes a work of the entire trinity to bring us to God. The Father chooses a people for himself before the foundation of the world according to the good purpose of His will which brings Him glory and promises that remnant of people to the Son. He then commissions the Son on a rescue mission to save and redeem those people through His own blood giving us the forgiveness of our trespasses and the riches of His grace as an inheritance which Paul says He lavishes upon us (in other words he's not stingy with His blessing of salvation). And then the son commissions the Spirit which we see in Ephesians 1:13-14 as promised in John 14:16 and John 15:26 to seal or secure this promised hope of a people that will one day live with their God forever. The Father makes the promise, the Son makes the provision, and the Spirit guarantees our hope until redemptions done until we join in endless praise to God the three in one… and why does Paul say He does this!? It's as we sing “to the praise of His glory, to the praise of His mercy and grace, to the praise of His glory YOU are the God that saves!” If you've come in here this morning and are wondering, “Why am I here? Why have I come? I am overwhelmed by my sin and have grown weary of doing good, what could possibly happen this morning that would change my life, my outlook, or my circumstances?” It's this, you are beloved! In love he predestined you to adoption as sons and daughters through the blood of Jesus Christ, in love he has called you and given you the forgiveness of your sins and the lavish riches of His grace, in love he has blessed you and called you beloved, in love he is making known to you the mystery of His will which is this great gospel that is making all thing new and right again, in love he has sealed you for the day of redemption despite your ever challenging growth and sanctification he will PERSONALLY see it through!!! That's why you're here this morning because Christ loves you and has called you to Himself! And that's just chapter 1 of the book. Chapter 2 Paul goes on to describe our condition and what we've been called from and called to. We who were sons of disobedience walking according to the passions of our flesh have been saved by grace. Not saved by our own hard work but saved by grace having been given faith as a gift to believe in God. This is not a result of our own doing rather as Paul says it is a gift of God, not of works so that our only boast is in Christ ALONE! This gospel of grace that levels the playing field for all of us, gives us a unity as one body so that you can't look over to your neighbor and say I was more acceptable than you were, more lovable, less dirty, just flat out better. It's so that in Paul's day the Jews couldn't look at the gentiles whom they despised and say “You have no place in this family” rather “this same gift of grace we've received as God's special people has been extended to you through the blood of Jesus, so that you are now as Ephesians 3:6 says, ‘fellow heirs, members of this same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel'.” Over and over and over Paul is hammering away at this simple truth, you were saved by God, for God, and to God. To put it another way from one of Paul's other New Testament letter's “to live is Christ and to die is gain!” This is the most important thing about you, your identity in Christ, because that is what you were created for; to dwell with, fellowship with, and worship your creator! So why do I bring all this up again? Well, as we said at the beginning, we've spent the last five weeks going through these imperatives or these commands that Paul is totally unapologetic about. He's saying if your life has truly been transformed by the gospel it should look like this: 1. Don't lie rather tell the truth 2. Don't sin with anger rather be angry and don't sin 3. Don't steal rather labor with honest work so you have something to share 4. Don't speak corruptly rather use your words for building up and giving grace These are all good things and should definitely characterize the life and living of a Christian! I mean who doesn't want an honest, gentle, hardworking, generous, and encouraging person in their life? I'd even say even non-Christians would consider this type of person to be generally good for their communities, businesses, and society in general. But I want us to consider something before moving on to our passage which contains another (what feels like) weightier imperative waiting for us in the very first verse of Ephesians 5. Consider this: • There are plenty of honest, gentle, hardworking, generous, and encouraging people in the world who haven't been transformed by the power of the gospel. This begs the question, “What's the difference between a non Christian who's life can be characterized by these virtues, values, and imperatives and a Christian who obeys these commands from Paul and bears fruit?” o The power by which you accomplish these good works and… o The purpose for which you accomplish these good works § And that's going to be so important as we look at this next imperative • You see the power by which the unregenerate person seeks to be a decent person ultimately rests in and relies on SELF and the ultimate purpose for which they seek to accomplish these virtues is FOR SELF • But the power by which the Christian can bear fruit of this nature is his/her UNION in CHRIST and the purpose for which the Christian bears fruit is FOR the GLORY of CHRIST The reason why this distinction is SO important is because we get to Ephesians 5:1 and we see this command “Therefore be imitators of God.” That's almost seems like an incredulous statement. “Really Paul, imitate God!? You might as well ask me to swim across the Pacific Ocean or jump to mars.” God is holy, God is perfect in wisdom, love knowledge, and power. He does all things well. He is perfect in justice; he upholds the universe with the Word of His power. He never sins. And yet Paul seems still to implore us to this anyway and I think this is why he can do this Paul summarizes three chapters of indicatives (or declarations regarding your identity) and it's in the three words in the rest of that verse, “As Beloved Children!” You see, if we aren't saturated in the gospel realities of Ephesians 1-3, if we don't have a robust view of our identity in Christ, then we're going to read right over the phrase “As beloved Children” and not believe that imitating God, as Paul is understanding it, is possible. You see this is why Paul spends so much time unpacking the glorious realities of the gospel for us in Ephesians 1-3. He realizes the only power by which someone can imitate God is by the power of the gospel. And we throw that word around here a lot; the gospel, the power of the gospel, applying the gospel to our lives, gospel, gospel, gospel. It can almost become white noise. So, when I say that Paul realizes the only power by which someone can imitate God is by the power of the gospel what I am saying is “Christ's life and righteousness working in and through you, applied to you through the blood of Jesus Christ shed on the cross, and working in you by the power of the Holy Spirit!” • You see the Greek word for “imitator” of God in verse 1 comes from the root word: μιμεομαι (mimeomai) this is a verb and noun form from where we get our word mimic. • But the actual word used here specifically in Ephesians 5:1 is the word: μιμητής (mimites) which is actually primarily a noun form. • You might be wondering, “Why does that matter, and it matters because if we're going to stay consistent with Paul's line of thought through this whole book, we have to understand that being an imitator of God is not some impossible thing to be accomplished but rather a position in Christ to be assumed that yields fruit! I love how Calvin put it, he said: o This principle is followed out and enforced by the consideration that children ought to be like their father. He reminds us that we are the children of God, and therefore bear a resemblance to God just as an earthly son bears a resemblance to his earthly father. o You see this is as much about resemblance through identity as it is about bearing fruit through action o And that is really good news for us as Paul is about to implore us to do this is primarily in two ways in the text: by imitating Christ's love, and in our sexual integrity So, with all that in mind: let's look at this first way in which we bear a resemblance as children of God and that's through: • Imitating Christ's love • Bears the question what does the love look like that I am supposed to imitate • And how did Christ love us? Well, Paul tells us in verse 2 by giving himself up for us sacrificially. o Twice in this book Paul describes the love of Christ as a giving up of himself to the point of death. He says it again in verse 25 giving husbands an example of how they ought to love their wives. He says “as Christ loved the church and gave himself up” for her. He says something similar again in Philippians 2 talking about Christ's humbling himself to come to His creation and giving himself up for us in obedience to the point of death, even death on a cross. 1 Timothy 2:6, Paul says he gave himself up as a ransom for all. Or Galatians 2:20 where Paul says, “and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” o Paul seems to narrow in often throughout his epistles on this unique nature of Christ's love which is that of utter and total selflessness in a spirit of “giving himself up” in sacrificial love for his own people, for sinners like you and me. o And of course he focuses on this, this is at the very core of the gospel. In this act of giving himself up we see Christ's truest display of love which was sacrificing his own life for His enemies. He gave himself up for you and for me. And Paul says to us here in Ephesians 5:2 imitate that. And guess what, you actually can. You can die to self, and live to Christ and sacrifice for others, and give and live selflessly for the good of those around you and even towards your enemy because remember; You are a child of God, you bear His resemblance and the resemblance of Christ. You share the same DNA. Paul says it this way in Romans 8:11: § the same spirit that raised Jesus Christ from the dead (and that is the Spirit of God) dwells in you and is right now giving life to your mortal body § And that is not only power to be saved but also the power to look like Jesus in the ways that he loves. It's power to change you more and more into the image of God. o God had Jesus give himself up for you so that through his sacrifice you might be able to give yourself in sacrificial love to others resembling the love of Christ. You see, you can't give what you haven't received but for those who have received the love of God, He has made them children of God who can live and act in the light of His love • He also calls us to imitate God in our sexual integrity: o Verse 3 says not to let any immorality, impurity, or covetousness be even named among you. o Your Bible might say fornication but the Greek word for sexual immorality is πορνεία (porneia) where we get our word pornography and came to mean all forms of sexual immorality including but not limited to incest, prostitution, polygamy, adultery, and any other form of sexual gratification outside of God's good design o Something interesting to note about the word porneia, In the Septuagint, the term refers specifically to adultery and, metaphorically, to Israel's idolatrous betrayal of her marriage to God. I think this is significant because it speaks to the very nature of our sin which manifests in many ways but at it's root is idolatry o And Paul distinguishes sexual immorality from impurity which is the Greek word ἀκαθαρσίᾳ (akatharsia) this is the idea of general uncleanness, or filthiness. It's the idea of loving something dirty or corrupted from it's original state of beauty. Paul uses this word over and over in the New Testament and it's often preceded by the word ἐπὶ (epi) which denotes aim or intention. In other words the intention is viewed as the basis for whatever act of impurity Paul is referencing. It's not just careless or thoughtless falling into uncleanness but rather an intention, pursuit, a trajectory driven by motive and desire. o And then he says covetousness which is not a word we use often in this day and age. It's the Greek word πλεονεξία (Pleonexia) which his often interchangeable with the word greed. As a matter of fact Paul uses this same word in Ephesians 4:19 but there it is translated greed and not covetousness. And yet even in that passage was tied closely to sensuality. It's the idea this intense desire for something that's not yours and you'll stop at nothing to get it. It's this insatiable lust that tricks you into thinking you should have something that God never intended you to have, and you'll do whatever it takes to get it. o Paul is saying let none of this be a part of you don't even let it be named among you. He says in verse 4 don't even joke about or talk about it or take it lightly. o And then he says God is so serious about His holiness that anyone who is sexually immoral, impure, or covetous (which is ultimately idolatry) has NO INHERITANCE IN THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST AND GOD. NOW HOLD ON A MINUTE!!! Let's get really honest, you might be asking yourself and rightly so, Ryan, what does this say about me and my condition. I've been sexually immoral. I've been impure or unclean. I've coveted and lusted after things or people that aren't mine. Maybe the scarier thing is, if I'm honest my flesh still does at times!? I struggle. I'm a sinner. I've looked at porn or am currently looking at porn. I find myself as the psalmist says devising evil or ungodliness in my heart. There are moments in the idleness of time I find myself drawn to sin in my thinking, wanting, and lusting. What does this mean for me! That's makes sense! • We'll look at two ways which we might be tempted to interpret this passage that we ought not to and one way in which I think we have an answer from Paul: o Ignore it: We might be tempted to make light of this warning and say, “God is benevolent and would never actually intentionally reject someone from his kingdom who sins like this. Who in the world could stand, everyone is a sinner which means no one would have access to his kingdom and his fellowship.” And while I understand why we as sinners feeling the weight of our guilt and shame might be tempted to think that; I don't think Paul is lightening up here in regards to sin. He's not apologetic over God's standard and holiness. This isn't the first time Paul has said this in regards to these sorts of sins. He gives a similar list and warning in Romans 1, I Corinthians 5, 1 Corinthians 6, Galatians 5, Colossians 3, 1 Thessalonians 4, 1 Timothy 1, 2 Timothy 3, and Titus 3. He obviously is trying to make a point about who inherits the kingdom of God and who God's people are throughout the majority of the New Testament. God doesn't capitulate with sin. You don't brutally kill your only son in order to make a deal with the devil. No, God sent His Son to die not to make amends with sin but to destroy it once and for all, defeating Satan and his enemies, overturning the fall and to establish a people and a kingdom where righteousness, love, and holiness is the very air we breathe. Let's not think Paul doesn't mean what he says here because he obviously does as does God who inspired Him to write it. o Earn It: The other thing we may be tempted to think (and some certainly have pressed into) is that this is some beckon call to perfection and that any struggle with sexual immorality, impurity, or covetousness (especially in seasons of intense struggle with sin) is evidence of disqualification from the kingdom of God and Christ. Oh church how we have such a limited view of our sin and depravity. We are so quick to measure our holiness by how much we are or aren't actively sinning but we forget that Christ didn't just die to atone for sinful acts, he died to atone for sinful natures. Inevitably in a body this size there are degrees to which some are wrestling with sin. Just because you aren't in the heat of the battle regarding sexual sin or perhaps other sins doesn't mean you are any less in need of a Savior than those who are. If that's the case for you praise God that He by His grace is giving you victory in certain areas of your life, He promised he'd continue shaping you into His image. But don't be deceived sin is deceptive and our enemy is smart and knows how to gain a foothold in our affections so take heed lest you fall. Continue to see that your nature is always in need of a Savior. But perhaps you are in here and struggling with sexual sin and temptation and are in the heat of the battle right now. § And listen just as an aside, let's not just reduce our sexual brokenness down to pornography only. Yes, that is a massive issue in our culture and not just in our culture but in the church. But there are so many other ways in which we fight against sexual brokenness in our lives. Remember Satan's strategy always is to take God's good gifts and distort them by telling us that there is a better way to enjoy what God intended; and there is no limit to that line of reasoning. He is crafty, he is a liar, and he'll say and do whatever is takes to convince you otherwise that God is good, His ways are good, and He is to be trusted. Marriages are broken sexually, single people are broken sexually, our children are broken sexually, the way men view women and women view men is often distorted and fueled by the enemies tactics. So, let's not kid ourselves. Yes, our sexual sin isn't less than pornography but we are complex beings so it is certainly more than that as well. o So you might be in the heat of the battle as we speak and saying “what is wrong with me, why can't I just stop!” I read my Bible and pray but it doesn't seem to be working. Listen don't stop reading your Bible and certainly don't stop praying because those means of grace will eventually bear you fruit, but you aren't alone in that feeling of failure. Listen to these words from Romans 7:21-25: § [21] So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. [22] For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, [23] but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. [24] Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? [25] Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin. o This is Paul talking here, the very person writing this letter to the Ephesians and giving this very warning. He seems to be well acquainted with the deep struggle against sin and he's honest about it. He says “my sin is so intense it seems like there are two natures at war inside of me and that's because there is.” We often say that God has saved us from the power of sin through the cross but he's left us in sin's affect here on earth until he comes again eradicating the very presence of sin and Paul's just honest enough to call that reality out. He says I want to obey the law of God with my mind but often I end up serving the law of sin with my flesh!? o And notice, he doesn't say, therefore I'm going to do better and try harder and fix myself. He literally just throws up a cry to Heaven in verse 24 of Romans 7 “O wretched man that I am, who will deliver me from this body of death!?” And he has an answer to that question which will lead us to our final point today. If the answer to our question of, “What do we do with this warning from Paul regarding our future hope and inheritance” isn't just ignore it and live with our sin and the answer isn't we have to earn our spot in the kingdom of God and Christ by waging war on our sin and doing better and trying harder than what are we left with!? • Expose it: This would be terrifying if it weren't for the nature of our relationship to God in the gospel! This is why we spent SOOO much time in understanding our union with Christ before we jumped into this passage. Remember Paul's words “As beloved children?” Because you are a child of God you've been transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of the beloved Son where you have redemption and the forgiveness or your sins. And you might say “yea but I still struggle with my sins…” and I'd say “I know and so does everyone else in here this morning who has a pulse.” But, you've been transferred from darkness into light. You've been given the forgiveness of your sins not the absence of them, at least not yet. Look at what Paul says in the following verses. The wrath of God (which is the rejection of those identified by their immorality, and impurity, and covetousness into His kingdom as we've just talked about) comes on the sons of disobedience, those still living in darkness and rejecting Christ and his reign completely. But he says to these Ephesian believers and he is saying to you today, that's not your identity anymore! You no longer walk in darkness. At one time you were darkness but you are now light and get to walk as children of the light. What does this mean? It means you no longer have to hide your sins from the wrath of God but instead you get to expose your sins in the light of His love and watch Him forgive you of your sins and cleanse you from all unrighteousness. The vehicle we have through the work of Christ that continually draws us to Christ is repentance. Yea but Ryan, what if I sin again today, repent! What if I sin again tomorrow, repent! What if I keep struggling with this sin, then keep repenting! Repent to God, give your sin to Christ and confess your sin to one another! Exposing your sin to God isn't cause to run away from God, it's cause for God to draw near to you and cleanse you from all impurity. Don't get me wrong you can spurn and quench the Holy Spirit and create distance in your fellowship with him but only by not repenting of your sin. God didn't kill his own son for sin to create distance between you and Him rather He killed his own son so that you could have an advocate to the father despite your sin and that advocate is the man Jesus Christ! This is the beauty of the gospel, the beauty of your union in Christ, and the beauty of the Pauline epistles, you can be free from sin because you are free from sin because you belong to the family of God, through the grace of Christ, and the wok of the Holy Spirit in you and that's where Paul started this whole book and where we started our message today. Be imitators of God in imitating the love of Christ and in your sexual integrity not in order to be children of God but “As Beloved Children of God.” The kingdom of God and Christ is made up of those who resemble the Father and look like Jesus and they resemble the father not by not struggling with immorality, impurity, and covetousness, but by repenting of their immorality, impurity, and covetousness and repenting often! • In other words the kingdom of God is made up of repentant people because repentant people reflect His holiness and want God. Unrepentant people don't care if they resemble God because God and an eternity with Him in His kingdom is not what their hearts truly long for! • Church can we start normalizing our sin nature? Not normalizing sin but normalizing the fact that we are all in the same battle the apostle Paul was in wherein two natures diametrically opposed to one another are waging war over our affections. BUT, through the work of Christ and the gift of repentance we can walk alongside each other and encourage each other to be imitators of God. That means we can't gasp in disbelief when one of our brothers or sisters confesses sin to us as though we can't believe that their first father and mother were Adam and Eve like the rest of us. But instead, gently yet unapologetically come alongside one another and say, “Hey you're a beloved child, a child of the light, you can take that sin right to the cross of Christ and be freed from it right now. So, let me help you in your growth and fight to kill that sin or idol.” And Lord willing they'll do the same for you! • This requires us to be honest about our sin and to be vulnerable. Church, listen I am one of your elders and pastors and I am constantly fighting against my flesh. I have to fight the sin of sexual immorality with the help of my amazing, wise, and Godly wife in our marriage and with brothers who care for my soul. I have to fight the sin of impurity and carelessness over uncleanness. I have to fight the sin of covetousness and idolatry lusting after and wanting what I don't have. I have a great need for a Savior but I have a great Savior for my need and so do you and I'd rather you know that and glory in a God who saves then pretend that's not true for some false sense of piety. There are three things we can do this morning and today as we close: 1. So often I hear the question how do I get involved in ministry at FCBC. We'll I'm going to give you an answer. Look at the person next to you or around you and commit to saying, “Hi, I'm so and so and I am committed to your growth in Christ and would love to get coffee this week and ask you how I can pray for you and where you're struggling and how I can encourage you in your repentance. And then say, “Would you do the same for me?” There are roughly 1200 of us here at FCBC and there are 9 elders. Could you imagine if our entire church bought into the idea that each of us are responsible for and to each other as a family, could you imagine the affect? That's doing ministry in the local church, that's always what “doing ministry” in the local church has looked like! 2. Tonight we'll be coming back to continue the conversation on how we fight for sexual integrity in this church. If all we do tonight is encourage the conversation towards what God intended for sex and sexuality in His good design and how we so often fall short of it but have an avenue to freedom and joy despite our brokenness, then it will have been a success. 3. Start now. We are going to close with singing “O Come To the Alter” and while it is a beautiful song of repentance and salvation we want it to move from our heads to our hearts and act on it. So I'm going to ask you to do something a little uncomfortable and say, “If you're hurting and broken within, overwhelmed by the weight of your sin, Jesus is calling” so come up front during this next song and pray with someone. We'll have members from our sexual integrity ministry as well as members from our prayer team up here who would love to pray with you and minister the gospel of repentance and redemption to your soul. Maybe you've realized this morning I'm not bothered by my sin. Or maybe you've discovered that the power and purpose by which you try to live your life is ultimately self and not Christ. Then come, repent of your sins, confess Christ as Lord, become an imitator of God “As a beloved child” and find true and ultimate freedom from your sin in a Savior who loved you and gave himself up for you! Paul's final words to us this morning: a. Ephesians 5:14: for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” b. Listen, do you want the warmth of the light of Christ to shine upon you, come, repent, and believe

Your Bible foretells a specific place on Earth today that is connected to shaking the heavens and the nations! Haggai: God Has Begun to Shake the Nations

Your Bible reveals where God is working in this end time. But you must understand a major key that unlocks Bible prophecy: the principle of prophetic duality.

Your Bible reveals where God is working in this end time. But you must understand a major key that unlocks Bible prophecy: the principle of prophetic duality.

Bible Reading: Psalms 25:8; 32:8-11After supper one evening, Caden helped clear the table and then covered it with old newspapers. "I'm going to work on my new model car," he said. He grinned as he took it out of the box. "Just look at all those pieces! And these details are awesome!"Caden began working, but it wasn't long before he went looking for his father. "Can you help me with my model car, Dad?" he asked.Dad looked up from his computer. "Sure, but can you manage it by yourself until I finish what I'm working on?""I'll try," Caden replied. But when Dad came to help him a little later, almost nothing had been done."What's the problem, buddy?" asked Dad.Caden sighed. "I don't understand how everything is supposed to fit together."Dad took the instruction sheet. "Okay," he said after glancing at it, "let's figure it out together." They got to work and soon were busy reading instructions, finding pieces, and fitting them to one another.After a while, Caden's mom reminded him that he needed to do his homework. "Okay, and I need to learn a verse for Bible club tomorrow too," said Caden. He sighed. "I like Bible club, but it takes up a lot of time." He turned to his dad. "Thanks for helping. I never would have gotten this far without you. I didn't understand what the sheet was saying until you walked me through it."Dad nodded. "Then trying to put this model together without my help would be a little like trying to live the Christian life without help from other Christians," he said. "That's something to remember as you learn your verse. Your Bible club teacher and our pastor and Sunday school teachers all help us understand the truth of the Bible. They help us understand the gospel--the good news that Jesus died and rose again to save us and give us eternal life--and how we should live as God's children. We need to remember to thank the Lord for them."Caden thought about it. "I guess you're right," he said. "There are lots of things in the Bible that I don't understand by myself." He grinned. "And you and Mom help too." -Dean KelleyHow About You?Do you thank God for those who help you understand His Word, the Bible? He wants you to learn His ways. One method of doing that is to read the Bible for yourself. But God also provides godly men and women who can help you understand passages that are difficult for you. Listen to them, learn from them, and thank God for them. Let them help you discover what God is telling you.Today's Key Verse:Teach me Your way, O Lord. (NKJV) (Psalm 27:11)Today's Key Thought:Thank God for Christian teachers

Millions, if not billions, of people around the world are experiencing major stress in their lives adversely affecting their health. Are you one of those whose stress negatively affects your success and happiness? How happy are Americans? The World Happiness Report summarized “The Sad State of Happiness in the United States and the Role of Digital Media”: “The years since 2010 have not been good ones for happiness and well-being among Americans…. Happiness and life satisfaction among United States adolescents, which increased between 1991 and 2011, suddenly declined after 2012…. Thus, by 2016-17, both adults and adolescents were reporting significantly less happiness than they had in the 2000s” (WorldHappiness.report, March 20, 2019). My friends, how can you overcome stress and live a life of success and happiness? Your Bible gives proven keys to cope with the challenges of life, and keys to produce lasting happiness and success. On today's program we'll be offering you an inspiring Bible Study Guide titled “Vital Keys to Happiness.” This audio CD contains three Tomorrow's World programs that will give you the major principles for abundant living. Be sure to write down the contact information to request your free copy. We all face major stresses in our lives. But you can find the way to true success and contentment. You can meet the challenges of stress, and even produce success and happiness, IF you follow the ancient and proven keys revealed in your Bible. Stay tuned!

Bible Reading: Psalm 37:3-5; 2 Peter 3:18Michael stood on the lawn, wishing he had someone to play with. "Timmy!" he called loudly, hoping his friend next door would hear him. "Tiiimmmeeee!" Michael's mom appeared on the back porch. "Go over and knock on Timmy's door, Michael. It's not polite to just yell for him." "But what if his mom answers?" asked Michael. "What if she doesn't want to be bothered?" "Oh, Michael, Timmy's mom is a very nice lady. She wouldn't mind answering the door," Mom assured him. "Don't be so shy." Michael looked at the neighbors' door. Mom was right--he was shy around adults he didn't know well. But knowing that didn't make him feel any braver. I think I'll just play here, he thought when his mom went back in. Maybe Timmy will see me and come out. Michael wandered behind the house to the tall maple tree where a black squirrel lived. He had named the squirrel Shadow and often tried to get close to watch the little animal get kernels from the ear of corn Dad had nailed to the fence post. At first, Shadow always ran away. Now the squirrel watched with his beady black eyes, but he didn't run until Michael was only a few feet away. "I think Shadow's starting to trust me," Michael told his mom at lunchtime. "He's learning you're not there to hurt him," Mom said. "That reminds me of you. You're still learning to trust our new neighbor--Timmy's mom. When you know her better, you'll see that she's happy to have you come over. The better you know someone, the easier it is to trust them." Pushing her chair back, Mom stood and took her dishes to the sink. "You know, Michael, it's like that in our relationship with God too. The better we get to know Him, the easier it is to trust Him. We get to know God as we read His Word and learn about Jesus, who loves us so much that He gave His life for us." She smiled. "I know I can trust Him to help me through anything." Michael thought about how Shadow was getting to know him and trust him. I want to be like that with God, he thought. And I want to trust Him to help me not be so shy around Timmy's mom and other adults too. -Judith K. BoogaartHow About You?Are you learning to trust God? Do you turn to Him in difficult situations and depend on Him to help you? The more you get to know Jesus, the more you'll be able to trust Him in the situations you face each day. Your Bible tells you all about Him. Read it on your own, learn more about what it says at church, and talk to Jesus every day to get to know Him better.Today's Key Verse:Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord. (NIV) (Psalm 40:4)Today's Key Thought:Know and trust God

They call it the "terrible twos" (remember?) because of the new challenges a toddler presents when they hit that two-year mark and they issue their first declarations of independence. Now, I remember when our granddaughter was two years old and doing human "terribles." Maybe because there were a lot more "terrific twos." Now, one exciting thing was an incredible word explosion she had. Sometimes, she seemed to not only know the words, but even some pretty important meaning behind the words. She's been known to sit down right next to her daddy as he was reading his Bible with her Bible open. Now, she knew what the book was called. She would say "Bible." But more and more, when she picked up her Bible, she said two words that she knew went together, "Bible...Jesus." I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "When The Bible Comes Alive." Those two words are always supposed to go together. Because ultimately our Bible reading isn't supposed to be about a book. It's about a person. It's about Jesus. Much like when I used to read love letters from my wife-to-be. I read those same words over and over again. There was no new information the second time, but see, I wasn't just with a letter. When I read what she wrote to me, I was with her; the person who wrote it until I could be "with" with her in person. That's how it's supposed to be when we pick up God's love letter to us - the Bible. We're not with a book. We're with the person who wrote it to us, and that changes everything. Sometimes we get into the rut of thinking, "It's my Bible reading time again." And frankly, maybe we're not all excited about it. It's like our Christian duty. And all too many times, the Bible just sits there as we run through all the "really important" other things we have to do. When you read God's Word, it should be something like the picture God gives us in Luke 10, beginning with verse 39. It's our word for today from the Word of God. Martha has invited Jesus to have dinner with her and her sister, Mary. The Bible says, "Mary...sat at the Lord's feet, listening to what He said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made." Martha pipes up and criticizes Mary for not running around like she is. But Jesus says, "Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken from her." Jesus, of course, wasn't condoning laziness. He was applauding the priority of loving Him over serving Him...of spending time with Him over doing things for Him. Yes, our love will result in serving and doing things for Him, but it has to be anchored in spending time with Him. Your Bible reading time needs to be the time each day that you, like it says here, "sit at the Lord's feet, listening to what He says." David called God's Word "the law from your mouth" and he said it was precious to him (Psalm 119:72). You read the words of the Bible as if Jesus is sitting across from you saying those words to you, because those are His words to you. So when you go through a day without time in God's Word, it's not the Bible that you're reading there - it's Jesus. The Bible doesn't care if you show up. Jesus does. That's why you need to make your time with Him and with His Word, the highest priority of your personal schedule - the sun around which all the other planets of your day must revolve. Jesus wept over His people one day and He expressed His sadness about the number of times He wanted to have time with them but, in His words, "you were not willing" (Matthew 23:37). I wonder if He's been saying that about you and me? It's time to recover your time with Jesus from the margins of your life and put it back in the center. Put Him back in the center. And when you pick up His Book, remember (like the little girl said) "Bible...Jesus."

Your Bible translation may end The Lord's Prayer where Stephen Davey left off in the last study in this series, but older translations include a doxology to this prayer in the Gospel of Matthew. These closing thoughts present several crucial elements of God that put our prayers and requests to Him in their proper perspective.

Your Bible translation may end The Lord's Prayer where Stephen Davey left off in the last study in this series, but older translations include a doxology to this prayer in the Gospel of Matthew. These closing thoughts present several crucial elements of God that put our prayers and requests to Him in their proper perspective.

Today's world stresses many of us. We worry about Russia's ongoing war with the Ukraine, the pressures of inflation, pandemic death and disease, natural and manmade disasters, crime and violence, relationship conflicts, and even traffic congestion. With all these pressures of life, how can we live peaceably? HOW can you deal with these stresses and challenges? My friends, there is one way that can help solve your problems. Your Bible shows the way to peace and prosperity. You can have amazing help from the divine promises in your Bible. Listen to this promise in Matthew the seventh chapter. Matthew 7:7, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” Our Father in heaven gives us the promise of answered prayer. Do you get answers to your prayers? Your Bible gives keys to effective prayer. Our free study guide, Twelve Keys to Answered Prayer, will help you in your loving relationship with God. Be sure to write down the contact information to order your free copy. My friends, you can solve many of the problems of life if you know the proven keys to powerful prayer. Stay tuned!

Your Bible exposes Satan's deadly attacks on Israel in this end time—whether spiritual Israel (God's one true Church) or physical Israel (primarily America). Satan uses three destroyers to try to blot out the name of Israel—but God will not allow it. America Under Attack Malachi's Message

Your Bible promises that a double-wonder miracle will occur in this end time, changing many lives for the better. Understand exactly what this double wonder is and how it has already happened.

Your Bible promises that a double-wonder miracle will occur in this end time, changing many lives for the better. Understand exactly what this double wonder is and how it has already happened.

In this conversation with Fr. Stephen De Young we talk about the agency and nature of the angels and how they differ from us, the idea of the Son of Man, the reason for creation and the hierarchy of being (the Counsel of God), re-enchantment, technology demons and rituals. =========== More from Fr. Stephen De Young: His books: - The Whole Counsel of God: An Introduction to Your Bible: https://store.ancientfaith.com/the-whole-counsel-of-god/ - The Religion of the Apostles: Orthodox Christianity in the First Century: https://store.ancientfaith.com/the-religion-of-the-apostles/ - God Is a Man of War: The Problem of Violence in the Old Testament: https://store.ancientfaith.com/god-is-a-man-of-war/ Blog and podcasts: - The Whole Counsel blog: https://blogs.ancientfaith.com/wholecounsel/ - The Whole Counsel podcast: https://www.ancientfaith.com/podcasts/wholecounsel - The Lord of Spirits podcast: https://www.ancientfaith.com/podcasts/lordofspirits Previous conversations with Fr. Stephen: - Hope for the Future and the Religion of the Apostles | with Fr. Stephen De Young: https://youtu.be/HsuxgepcNwQ - Gods, Angels and Demons - With Fr. Andrew Damick and Fr. Stephen De Young: https://youtu.be/NW_WlIurGtA =========== - Original video: https://youtu.be/i8KkjD-sLQI - The Symbolic World website and blog: www.thesymbolicworld.com - Merch: www.thesymbolicworld.store - Language of Creation, by Matthieu Pageau: www.amazon.com/Language-Creation…ook/dp/B07D738HD8 Support this podcast: - Website: https://thesymbolicworld.com/support/ - Patreon: www.patreon.com/pageauvideos - Subscribestar: www.subscribestar.com/jonathan-pageau - Paypal: www.paypal.me/JonathanPageau Join the conversation: - Unofficial Facebook discussion group: www.facebook.com/groups/1989208418065298/ - The Symbolic World Reddit: www.reddit.com/r/TheSymbolicWorld/ Social media links: - Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheSymbolicWorld - Twitter: www.twitter.com/pageaujonathan - Instagram: www.instagram.com/jonathan.pageau My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson. My website designers, Anomalist Design: www.anomalistdesign.com/

Your Bible makes many bold claims and dares you to prove any of it false. Learn why you can stake your life on every word of the Holy Bible.