Podcasts about Zebedee

5:7 And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink. 5:8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. 5:9 For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken: 5:10 And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. 5:11 And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him. 5:12 And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. 5:13 And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him. 5:14 And he charged him to tell no man: but go, and shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. 5:15 But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities. 5:16 And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed. 5:17 And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them. 5:18 And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him. 5:19 And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus. 5:20 And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee. 5:21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone? 5:22 But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts? 5:23 Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk? 5:24 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house. 5:25 And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God. 5:26 And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day. 5:27 And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me. 5:28 And he left all, rose up, and followed him. 5:29 And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them. 5:30 But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners? 5:31 And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. 5:32 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. 5:33 And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink? 5:34 And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? 5:35 But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days. 5:36 And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new make...

TRANSFORMED IN THE STORMSBuilt Different Pt. 4 | October 5, 2025Pastor Bria BradshawMatthew 7:24–27 (ESV) “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”John 16:33 (ESV) I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.We can either be deformed by avoiding our pain or be transformed by meeting God in our pain.“Pain that is not transformed is transmitted." - Richard Rohr✓ Deny - Deny that you have pain✓ Detach - Emotionally disconnect from feeling pain✓ Drug - Numb our painI. LEAVE SOME THINGS BEHINDMatthew 26:36-37 (NIV) Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled.II. NAME IT WITH OTHERSMatthew 26:38 (NIV) Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” III. GET REAL WITH GODMatthew 26:39a (NIV) Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me.IV. SURRENDER TO HIS WILLMatthew 26:39b (NIV) “...Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

5:1 And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret, 5:2 And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. 5:3 And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship. 5:4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. 5:5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. 5:6 And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. 5:7 And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink. 5:8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. 5:9 For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken: 5:10 And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. 5:11 And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him. 5:12 And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. 5:13 And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him. 5:14 And he charged him to tell no man: but go, and shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. 5:15 But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities. 5:16 And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed. 5:17 And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them. 5:18 And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him. 5:19 And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus. 5:20 And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee. 5:21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone? 5:22 But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts? 5:23 Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk? 5:24 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house. 5:25 And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God. 5:26 And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.

St. Luke 5:1-11. Drawing on St. Luke's account of Christ calling His disciples to become fishers of men, this homily explores why marriages and parishes often falter when built on human strength alone. Fr. Anthony reminds us that brokenness, poor models, and cultural confusion cannot be overcome by willpower or good intentions, but only through Christ and His Church. Just as the apostles' empty nets were filled at the Lord's command, so too our families and parishes flourish when rooted in His blessing and obedience. --- Homily: Why is it so hard to build a good marriage (and parish)? Saint Luke 5:1-11; Fishers of Men So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon's, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat. When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him (St. Luke 5:1-11). Introduction: How Christ Builds the Church This is a beautiful story from the ministry of Jesus Christ. It comes on the heels of his Baptism, his temptation by the devil in the wilderness, and the beginning of his preaching ministry in the synagogues of Galilee. In this Gospel, Christ has started building something very special; something that would never fall; something that would bring healing to broken humanity; something through which He would change the world. He began building the Church. And He did it with simple fishermen on the side of a lake. Continuation: We are Building, too We are participating in this work as well. We want to build something that will never fail; something that will bring healing to broken people; something that will transform a troubled place. We are building a parish. Today's Gospel provides a wonderful lesson for us on this very thing. In his homily on today's Gospel, St. Nikolai Velimirovich writes; “Except the Lord build the house, all who labor labor in vain.” (Psalm 126:1) If the builders build in God's name, they will build a palace, even their hands are weak and their material poor. If, though, the builders build in their own name, in opposition to God, the work of their hands will be brought down as was the Tower of Babel. There is no power that can bring God's work to ruin. Pagan palaces and cities fall into ruin, but God's huts remain standing. That which God's finger upholds stands more firmly than that which [the mythical titan] Atlas supports on his back… May the almighty Lord preserve us from the thought that we can achieve any good without His help and His blessing… May today's Gospel serve as a warning that such vain thoughts must never be formulated our souls. It speaks of how all men's efforts are in vain if God does not help them. While Christ's apostle's were fishing as men, they caught nothing; but when Christ commanded them to cast their nets once more into the sea, they caught such a great haul of fish that their nets tore. Why would anyone think they can build something worthwhile without Christ? I don't know. It is futile. We know better. But we do it all the time. Understanding the Curse of Sin: the example of marriage Let's look at the example of marriage. It can be so hard to get it right, and there are just so many ways to get it wrong. Why is it so hard? It isn't because people aren't trying. In fact, they are trying all kinds of things… but they aren't working very well. At best, some couples might end up with a marriage that lasts, but marriage was not just meant to endure. It's not supposed to be like a boxing match that makes it to the final round; with the two so tired they can hardly lift a glove and they just lean on one another gasping and looking forward to the bell (or, as is as likely to happen in marriages, the two just hang out in their separate corners doing their own thing until the final bell sounds). A good marriage does more than last, it brings joy to its members and its fruit brings happiness that endures from generation to generation. But why is this so rare? It should come as no surprise. Look how many people  come from broken families. It isn't their fault, but this really puts them behind the eight ball. They come from broken families and a broken world, so they have bad examples and have internalized all the wrong instincts. Brokenness has been imprinted in their minds and hearts; this cannot help but shape their actions, no matter how good and noble their intentions are. Even if they try to rise above and do things right, what examples are they going to follow? Television? Movies? TikTok?  Their friends? Their hearts? None of these is a reliable guide – all of them are fallen. If statistics are correct – and there is no reason to doubt them – our young men are learning more about how to relate to women from pornography than they are from anything good and real. And the expectations and self-respect of our young women are being shaped by this same blighted culture. Is there really any wonder that we are so bad at marriage? That even those young couples who try to get it right end up building a perverted parody of the kind of blessed union of flesh and spirit that we celebrate in the Mystery of Crowning? That we have far more “towers of Babel” than temples of true love? Reiterating the Problem… and the solution To repeat the Psalm; “Except the Lord build the house, all who labor labor in vain.” (126:1). We cannot overcome our own brokenness by trying harder or following the examples and guidance of people who are broken, too (St. Matthew 15:14; … if the blind lead the blind both will fall into a pit). An alcoholic cannot live a healthy life by trying harder; he has to admit his problem, heal and transform his heart and habits. And he has to let God be the foundation of this process. This is why twelve-step programs are so successful: they transform the hearts and habits of the repentant, with God as the foundation of the process. How many addicts do you know that continue ruining their lives because they think they can work everything out on their own? But alcoholics and philanderers do not just hurt themselves. We know from history and our own observations that the children of alcoholics and broken homes are cursed by both nature and nurture. Again, it isn't fair, but it is true. If we want the next generations to succeed then we have to be honest about both the cause and the cure of what ails them and us. The cause is our brokenness, and the cure is Christ Jesus. The cure is His Church. The cure is the Way of Holy Orthodoxy. All else is vanity. They are Towers of Babel. They are sand castles at a low tide. Back to Today's Gospel: becoming fishers of men The curse of sin is the very thing that Christ came to remove. To put it in very practical terms, Christ came to save your marriages, to heal your addictions, to restore your sanity, and to replace your sorrow, pain, and frustration with joy and eternal blessedness. That is to say, He came to save you from the very real, very specific, and very damning problems in your life. And not just yours, but everyone's. A world that was created good groans in agony, and our Lord loves it too much to allow that to continue. And so He became a man, He taught us, He died for us, He was resurrected and ascended into Glory, and, more to today's point, He established the Church to be the Ark of our salvation. What a beautiful image a boat is for the Church. Think about it: we are drowning in a sea of sin and trying to tread water amidst a storm of temptation. We cannot survive this on our own, and it does not help to band together – eventually, even the strongest swimmer must succumb to weakness; moreover, the weak are infamous for dragging the stronger down. It is a terrible situation to be drowning in this stormy sea. Our breaths are numbered, and we are sure to die in agony. It is only a matter of time. But into this bleak scene comes salvation: the apostles cast out their nets and pull us in to the safety of the boat. We can finally breath without struggling. It is calm in the boat. It is here that our real healing begins… then we are given our own nets.  Conclusion: we cannot catch men if we don't try; we cannot catch men if we don't learn how We are in the boat. Here at Christ the Saviour, we have the fullness of the faith (we are like a fractal of the Universal Church) so it is fair to say that we are the boat. But remember that bit earlier about how nature and nurture conspire against our marriages? You know me well enough by now to know that I wasn't just talking about marriage. Marriage is an image of the Church: the union of flesh with one another and the union of that one flesh with God (Ephesians 5:32). Why should we think that we are naturally any better at living as the Church than we are with marriage? The same forces work against us: we suffer from both nature and nurture. Just as good intentions are not enough for the children of broken homes, they are not enough for us as we try to build this parish. Without serious help, we will just end up building the equivalent of a miserable and failed marriage, another Tower of Babel, a perverse monument to our own fallenness. We cannot do it on our own.  We need help.   We need Christ. Without Him, we are like the Apostles in today's lesson before our Lord came; “toiling all night and catching nothing” (St. Luke 5:5). It had been a hard night for them and they had given up on catching anything; but then Christ came and told them to go back out, and they caught more than they could carry. So many that their boats almost broke. This parish has been through a lot.  There was a time when it was down to a handful of people.  Like Simon in today's lesson, we had good hearts and the best of intentions, but we were tired; and we had pretty much given up on catching fish. But the Lord has told us to get back out there and get it done. And so that is what we are doing.  Of course, we are smart in the ways of the world, and we are always tempted to rely on our own strength and our own hearts. But our hearts are broken and our strength will fail us. “Except the Lord build the house, all who labor labor in vain.” (126:1). But for those who put their trust in the Lord and in His way – there is no limit to the good that they can do. This is where we are. We have given our lives and the future of this parish to the Lord Jesus Christ.  Like Simon, we haven't always seen the point of what the Lord commands, but also like Simon, we follow Him. And we know the result of doing the Lord's will: the catch was so great that their nets were so full that they were all but bursting, and the ship could barely stay afloat.  Does this sound familiar?  The Lord has bless your commitment and your faith; and our growth has been so great that we wonder if our walls can hold the number of men, women, and children who have been pulled in to the safety of the Church. So great that we, like Simon calling for the second boat, are helping to plant missions and look for new properties to provide enough room. Because there is no reason to expect this growth to stop.  After all, there are a lot of people drowning in the waters around us. We cannot allow them to perish – it is God's will that all be saved. It is a tough calling. But we do not labor in vain: because we are building according to the Lord's command. We have been transformed fishers of men. To God be all glory and may He bless us as we do this work.

Monday –   Luke 5:1-11 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret,[a] the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. 2 He saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”5 Simon answered, “Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” 9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners.  Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don't be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” 11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”5 Simon answered, “Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” ….. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don't be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” 

[Matthew 26:36-41] Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” [37] He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. [38] Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” [39] Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” [40] Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn't you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. [41] “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Watch: to give strict _______________ to, be cautious. [1 Peter 5:8-9] Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. [9] Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. If you don't watch where you are going you are destined to _______________! [2 Corinthians 2:11] in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes. Don't be caught off guard by the ______________ that come at you. Battles are won before they are even ______________. When we fall into sin it is because we ____________ to watch and pray. The secret to ______________ over sin is to watch and pray. [1 Corinthians 10:12-13] So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! [13] No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. The way out doesn't help if you don't ____________ it.

Mark 3:13-35 13 Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. 14 He appointed twelve[a] that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach 15 and to have authority to drive out demons. 16 These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter), 17 James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means “sons of thunder”), 18 Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot 19 and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. 20 Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. 21 When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.” 22 And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebul! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.” 23 So Jesus called them over to him and began to speak to them in parables: “How can Satan drive out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. 26 And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come. 27 In fact, no one can enter a strong man's house without first tying him up. Then he can plunder the strong man's house. 28 Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter, 29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin.” 30 He said this because they were saying, “He has an impure spirit.” 31 Then Jesus' mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. 32 A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.” 33 “Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked. 34 Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother.” Lesson Notes Outline of Mark 3:13-35 13-19 - Jesus appoints the 12 20-21 - Jesus' family notified 22-30 - Conflict with teachers of the law 31-35 - Jesus' family arrives The teachers of the law have a new strategy to deal with Jesus. They don't question his actions. Instead they accuse him of being on the wrong team. The key question of this text is "what team is Jesus on?" NT Wright on the "unforgiveable sin" of 28-29: “Once you label what is in fact the work of the Holy Spirit as the work of the devil, there's no way back […] It isn't that God gets specially angry with one sin in particular. It's rather that if you decide firmly that the doctor who is offering to perform a life-saving operation on you is in fact a sadistic murderer, you will never give your consent to the operation.” Family was the key to identity in the first century. Jesus' refusal to acknowledge his family indicate that he has a "new team". Mark highlights moments of this narrative to demonstrate how Jesus identifies his allegiance not to the demons (as the teachers of the law accuse him of) nor his family, as society expects, but instead is creating something new to belong to. - He begins (13-19) and ends (33-35) this section by showing who his new team is. Ephesians 6:12 - Paul writes in a time of great Christian persecution that our enemies are not "flesh and blood" but rather spiritual force. People are not our enemy. Jesus invites us to a new team - one that doesn't see people as enemies, but rather people who just haven't joined up yet. - We are invited to see people how Jesus sees them, rather than boiling them down to a political idea or unlikable label. - We can love those we would never otherwise love because Jesus has given us his undeserved love first.

Come As You Are Series - MatthewMatthew 9:9 “As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man called Matthew sitting in the tax collector's office; and He said to him, “Follow Me!” And he got up and followed Him.”Before watching the chosen series, I didn't understand why it was so unusual for Jesus to choose Matthew. I knew the Jewish people did not like tax collectors, but I didn't realize just how much the Jewish people hated them. I also didn't realize how hard it was for a Jewish person to take that job. I didn't know that their entire family would disown them, and all the Jewish people would dislike them.When you watch The Chosen, a series about the life of Jesus, you can see how hard it was for Matthew and how hard it was for his family. In this series, Matthew didn't really seem to understand why his family was so upset. To him, it was a job and one he was very well suited for. He was very good with numbers and someone needed to collect the taxes. It paid very well and he was able to afford nice things. He wanted to share those things with his family and to help his family out.However, his family wanted nothing to do with that money and nothing to do with him. There were several reasons why the Jewish people hated the tax collectors. Here are five of them.1. They Worked for the Romans. Israel was under Roman occupation, which many Jews saw as a constant reminder that they were not free. Tax collectors were Jewish people who collaborated with the Roman government to collect taxes from their own people. Many Jews saw this as betrayal — essentially siding with the oppressor.2. They Collected More Than Required. Tax collectors often used a system called tax farming: they paid Rome a set amount upfront for the right to collect taxes, and then charged people more than what Rome required in order to profit. This meant they were often greedy and corrupt, getting rich at the expense of their fellow Jews.3. They Were Considered Ritually Unclean. Because they worked closely with Gentiles (Romans) and handled money with images of Caesar on it (which some Jews considered idolatrous), they were considered ceremonially unclean and unable to fully participate in religious life. They were lumped in with “sinners” in society — seen as spiritually dirty and morally compromised.4. They Contributed to Oppression. Paying Roman taxes meant funding Rome's army and empire — which included pagan temples and the oppression of Jewish people. Tax collectors were seen as helping the enemy, adding to the suffering of their own nation.5. They Represented Injustice. Many people were already living in poverty, and tax burdens could be crushing. Tax collectors were the face of that injustice, the ones knocking on doors, demanding payment, and sometimes taking people's property.As you can see, this opinion of tax collectors went a lot deeper than just the fact that they were upset they had to pay taxes to a ruler they didn't believe in, and they didn't really have that money. There were a lot of reasons why the tax collectors were mistrusted, disliked, and in many cases, hated.This is why it is so shocking that Jesus chose Matthew to be one of His 12 chosen apostles. In the show, you can see that the other apostles don't understand Jesus's choice and don't really want to spend time with Matthew. However, they all come around in the end. They all learn to trust that Jesus has a plan, and they get to know Matthew, not for what he does, but for who he is.The same is true for you. You might have a job that people don't understand, or you might be doing things that go against God and all He wants for us, and yet God decides He is going to choose you to follow Him. Other people might not understand this. They might think you are the last person who should be doing this, and they may tell you that. It's ok. It doesn't matter what others think. What matters is that God has told you. God is calling each one of us. He is calling us to follow Him, and He is calling us to something greater as well. He is not calling us each to the same thing, but I promise God has placed a calling on your life, and He is just waiting for you to come to Him and ask Him what this calling is.It may be something He is putting on your heart to do immediately, and it may be something that He is calling you to in the future. Either way, ask Him to tell you all about it. Ask Him to prepare you for it. Ask Him to equip you for it. This series is called Come As You Are because that is precisely what God wants from us. Just say yes, right where we are. He doesn't want us to change first. He wants us to come to Him just as we are, and then He will change us in the most beautiful way!God didn't tell Matthew to find a new job, repent of all his sins, and then come and follow Him. He saw him at work and said Follow Me! and Matthew did. Imagine the courage and trust it must have taken Matthew to walk away from everything he knew to follow Jesus. Imagine how hard it must have been to not give two weeks' notice, not give his boss a heads up, just to stand up and leave all he knew for a life full of unknowns.One thing that amazes me about all those to whom Jesus said, “Follow Me.” They never asked any questions. It doesn't say that Matthew stopped and asked Jesus a bunch of questions. It just says that He said Follow Me, and Matthew got up and followed Him. Matthew 4:18-22 says, “Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon, who was called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of people.” Immediately, they left their nets and followed Him. Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and his brotherJohn, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets; and He called them. Immediately, they left the boat and their father and followed Him.”Do you see how, at least in these two instances, Jesus said Follow Me and they just followed Him. There were no questions like, For how long? How much will we be paid? What about our families? What about our bills? What should we take with us? I feel like I would have a ton of questions, and they immediately left their nets and followed Him.”God did not ask any of these people to change before they followed Him. Were they all perfect men? No, I am sure they were not. Did they have their own issues and problems? Yes, I am sure they did. Yet Jesus didn't care. He knew everything about them, and He still called them. He knew all of their flaws, all of their sins. He knew what was in their hearts, and He still called them. He is calling you, too!He is calling you with all of your sins. He is calling you with all of your imperfections. He is calling you with your addictions and with your hangups. He is calling you even though you aren't sure what He is calling you to. He is calling you even though you have a thousand questions. He is calling you just as you are. So, go ahead and say yes. Say yes, you will follow Him wherever He leads you. Say yes, you will follow Him and allow Him to change you. Say yes, now, not after you change, because let's be honest, without Him, there is no changing.Dear Heavenly Father, I ask that you bless all those listening to this episode today. Lord, you are amazing. You call us even though we are not perfect, and we are so grateful. Lord, please help us to hear that call. Help us to believe you want us just as we are and that you will help us to be the person you created us to be. Help us to say yes to the call you are placing on our lives, even if we don't know what that call is or everything it entails. Helps us trust, Lord. We love you, and we ask all of this in accordance with your will and in Jesus's holy name, Amen!Thank you so much for joining me on this journey to walk boldly with Jesus. Two more weeks to sign up for the retreat. CLICK HERE for all the details. I hope to see you there. Remember, Jesus loves you just as you are, and so do I! Have a blessed day.Today's Word from the Lord was received in May 2025 by a member of my Catholic Charismatic Prayer Group. If you have any questions about the prayer group, these words, or how to join us for a meeting, please email CatholicCharismaticPrayerGroup@gmail.com. Today's Word from the Lord is, “a vision of a little child who's just learning to walk, raising their hands up, and the parents grab those hands. That's the Lord grabbing our hands as we praise him with lifted hands. And walking us through.” www.findingtruenorthcoaching.comCLICK HERE TO DONATECLICK HERE to sign up for Mentoring CLICK HERE to sign up for Daily "Word from the Lord" emailsCLICK HERE to sign up for my newsletter & receive a free audio training about inviting Jesus into your daily lifeCLICK HERE to buy my book Total Trust in God's Safe Embrace

Today on the show, I share my review of "The Chosen" Season 4, Episode 1, titled "Promises." I explore the stark contrast between the impending death of John the Baptist and his birth. Additionally, I discuss subplots involving Thomas and Ramah, Zebedee's oil business, and the crucial conversation between Judas Iscariot and Simon the Zealot about how to serve Jesus best. Also, I discuss the emotional struggle of John the Baptist's loved ones, including Jesus, as they confront his actual death.

More than Hype ReCreate Church | Michael Shockley | September 14, 2025 1 John Series, Part 1: More than Hype 1 John 1:1-4 ---------- EPISODE SUMMARY In the opening message of a new series on 1 John, Michael Shockley introduces us to the incredible journey of John the Apostle - from a barefoot boy splashing in the Sea of Galilee to the last living eyewitness of Jesus Christ. Through the colorful backstory of "Johannan" (John's Aramaic name), discover how a hot-tempered fisherman's son became known as the "Apostle of Love." This message establishes that our faith isn't based on hype, legend, or secondhand stories, but on the real, tangible experiences of people who lived with Jesus daily for three years. John's opening verses in his first epistle emphasize what he personally heard, saw, looked upon, and touched - making the case that the Gospel is more than hype, more than history, but the very Life of Jesus living in believers today. Core Message: The Gospel is more than hype, more than history — it's The Life of Jesus in us. ---------- KEY TOPICS COVERED The Story of John the Apostle - Born as "Johannan" in Bethsaida, son of Zebedee and Salome - Growing up as a fisherman with calloused hands and stormy nights - Transformation through John the Baptist's preaching and baptism The Call to Follow Jesus - John the Baptist pointing to Jesus as "the Lamb of God" - The moment John's spiritual compass found "true North" - Jesus choosing both John and James as disciples despite their rough edges - The nickname "Boanerges" (Sons of Thunder) for their fiery tempers - Jesus' correction when they wanted to call down fire on Samaritans John's Special Relationship with Jesus - Being part of the inner circle with Peter and James - Witnessing the Transfiguration and Jesus' glory shining like the sun - Sitting beside Jesus at the Last Supper, asking bold questions - Being the only disciple to stand at the foot of the Cross - Receiving the personal mission to care for Mary, Jesus' mother From Death to Resurrection - John's heartbreak at Jesus' death, not understanding the promise of resurrection - Sprinting to the empty tomb on Easter morning - Seeing and touching the Risen Christ for forty days - Receiving the Great Commission to spread the news worldwide - Becoming "a man on fire for the mission" after Jesus' ascension A Life of Persecution and Ministry - Multiple arrests and beatings for preaching the Gospel - Watching his brother James become the first apostle martyred - All other apostles dying violent deaths for their faith - Moving to Ephesus to father the local churches - Writing the Gospel of John to record previously untold stories Exile and Final Years - Surviving execution by boiling oil through divine protection - Exile to the rocky island of Patmos for his continued witness - Receiving and recording the visions that became the Book of Revelation - Returning to Ephesus in frail old age but with powerful words - Writing three epistles recognized as Holy Spirit-breathed truth The Credibility of the New Testament - Written by eyewitnesses and those who interviewed eyewitnesses - Composed within decades of the actual events, not centuries later - Authors gained no earthly advantage - only persecution and death - Hundreds of people could have disputed fabricated details - The ultimate test: would you die for something you knew was false? The Reality of Jesus as "The Word of Life" - John's emphasis on tangible, physical experience with Jesus - Not debating an idea but introducing a Person he knew intimately - God becoming physical reality because humanity couldn't reach God - The Life and Salvation of Jesus "manifested" - made real and obvious - Jesus putting on humanity, sandals, and walking dusty roads The Purpose of John's Writing - To share what he literally saw and heard with his own senses - To bring others into fellowship with Jesus and the family of believers - To continue the declaration started by all the apostles - To help people connect with Jesus and avoid doing life alone - That readers' "joy may be full" - complete joy found in Jesus Modern Eyewitnesses and Testimonies - We may not have literally seen Jesus like John did - But we can testify to His miracles and power in our lives today - Brokenness made whole, addiction overcome, selfishness transformed - Bitterness replaced with forgiveness, anxiety with unexplainable peace - The biggest miracle: people coming out of darkness into Light Understanding Joy That Is Full - Joy isn't dependent on pleasant circumstances or material possessions - People with easier lives often complain more than those with struggles - Family and good things bring limited joy that can be broken - True joy cannot depend on what we have or what happens - Fullness of joy CAN be found in fellowship with Jesus ---------- MEMORABLE QUOTES "The Gospel is more than hype, more than history — it's The Life of Jesus in us." "The compass needle found true North." "Jesus wasn't like any Rabbi Johanan had ever known." "The Kingdom of God would be built with love, not vengeance." "Only the one who did not run from death escaped death." "The Son of Thunder became the Apostle of Love." "He outran Peter to the tomb, outlived all the others, and outlasted exile to bring you this message." "Joy cannot depend on what we have or what happens. It depends on Who Jesus Is." "Just like a healthy plant drops seeds that are able to sprout and grow new plants, a healthy believer spreads the seed of The Good News." "I have seen Jesus. I have heard Him. I have touched Him. And it changed me forever." ---------- BIBLICAL FOUNDATION - Primary Text: 1 John 1:1-4 - Key Theme: Eyewitness testimony to the reality of Jesus Christ - Historical Context: John writing as the last living apostle - Emphasis: Physical, tangible experience with Jesus ("heard," "seen," "looked upon," "handled") - Purpose Statement: Fellowship with God and complete joy in believers - Connection: The Word of Life manifested in human form ---------- PRACTICAL APPLICATION If You Question Whether Jesus Really Existed: - Consider the historical evidence from multiple eyewitness accounts - Remember these weren't legends written centuries later - The apostles gained nothing earthly and died for their testimony - Ask yourself: would you die for something you knew was false? - Examine the transformation in the lives of the eyewitnesses If You Feel Like Your Faith Is Just Ideas or Rules: - Understand that Christianity is relationship with a Person, not a system - Know that Jesus became physically present because we couldn't reach God - Remember that faith is about knowing Jesus personally, not just knowing about Him - Allow the reality of who Jesus is to transform your daily experience - Let His life live in you rather than trying to follow external rules If You Feel Alone in Your Spiritual Journey: - Recognize that fellowship is a core purpose of John's message - Church isn't just a Sunday event but a family of believers - Connect with people who know your name and walk with you through struggles - Don't try to do life alone - God designed us for community - Find or create spaces where genuine spiritual fellowship can happen If Your Joy Feels Incomplete: - Understand that joy doesn't depend on pleasant circumstances - Remember that even good things like family have limitations - Don't base joy on what you have or what happens to you - Ground your joy in who Jesus is rather than temporary things - Seek the fullness of joy that comes through fellowship with Jesus If You Haven't Shared Your Faith Recently: - Ask yourself why you don't feel a nudge to share what you've experienced - Remember that healthy believers naturally spread the Good News - Consider what Jesus has done in your life that others need to hear - Be an eyewitness to His power and miracles in your own experience - Share your story of transformation and hope with others ---------- THE ULTIMATE INVITATION Maybe you've always thought of Jesus as just a historical figure, a good teacher, or even religious hype. But John's testimony calls us to something far greater - a personal encounter with the Living Christ. The same Jesus who walked dusty roads, ate with tax collectors, calmed storms, and rose from the dead is available to you today. Not as an idea to understand, but as a Person to know. Not as history to study, but as Life to experience. The little boy who splashed in Galilee became an old man who could say, "I have seen Jesus, heard Him, touched Him, and it changed me forever." Today, Jesus offers you the same life-changing encounter. Will you let His life live in you? ---------- CONNECT WITH RECREATE CHURCH - Website: recreatechurch.org - Support the Ministry: Give through the Tithe.ly app or offering boxes ---------- Have you moved beyond seeing Jesus as just a historical figure or religious concept to experiencing Him as a living Person? What testimony do you have of His work in your life that others need to hear? The Gospel is more than hype, more than history - it's the Life of Jesus available to live in you today.

Service and Sacrifice - Matthew 20:17-28‘Cursed by anyone who perverts the justice due to the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow.' And the people shall say, ‘Amen.' - Deut. 27:19‘Accept atonement, O LORD, for your people Israel, whom you have redeemed, and do not set the guilt of innocent blood in the midst of your people Israel, so that their blood guilt be atoned for.' So you shall purge the guilt of innocent blood from your midst, when you do what is right in the sight of the LORD. - Deut. 21:8-9Those who reject biblical truth have always promoted godless ideas that have very bad consequences in the real world. Now those ideas are more accessible than ever online and on social media. 1 in 3 college students say it's okay to use violence to stop speech you disagree with (FIRE).Jesus knows what awaits Him, but still goes - V. 17-191st statement of deathMatt. 16:21-22From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.2nd statement of deathMatt. 17:22-23As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill Him, and He will be raised on the third day.”3rd statement of deathMatt. 20:17-19And on the way said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and He will be raised on the third day.”Crucifixion was reserved for the worst of the worst criminals – those Rome wanted to make examples of. What neither the Jewish nor Roman officials understood was that they would be fulfilling prophecy.But He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned – every one – to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. - Isaiah 53:5-6The Disciples are more concerned about their glory than Christ's suffering - V. 20-24The sons of Zebedee were John and James, and Salome was their mother. It's possible she was Mary's sister, which meant she was Jesus' aunt (Draw your own conclusion by studying Matthew 20:20-28; 27:55-56; Mark 15:40-41; 16:1-8; John 19:25).Unfortunately, their faith was still very selfish and focused in on “what's in it for me” mentality. They also wanted to be viewed as greater than their fellow disciples. Far too often, we are just like them.The first cup Jesus refers to is the “cup of judgment” due wicked sinners (Psalm 11:6, 75:8; Isa. 51:17, 22; Jer. 25:15, 17, 28; Rev. 14:10, 18:16).The second cup Jesus refers to is the cup of salvation given to those whose faith is in God and sins forgiven by Christ (Psa. 116:13; Matt. 26:27).Greatness in God's eyes is gained through servant leadership - V. 25-28In response to the disciples pride, Jesus gave instructions in verse 26-27 that have changed not just true Christian practice but affected every leadership structure in cultures heavily influenced by Christianity – Jesus introduced to the world “servant leadership.”Notice Jesus doesn't criticize their ambition to be great – He channels it! By Jesus' definition every Christian can be great, no matter how simple their life position and natural talents. Everyone can do what Jesus did – serve others as He served the world.Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of His body, that is, the church. - Col. 1:24Jesus Christ sacrificed to actualize salvation for all who repent and believe. We make sacrifices to give others access to that saving message!

Your Daily Prayer

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and illness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.'  Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and illness. These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.  (Matthew 9.35-38, 10.1-4, NIV)

September 7, 2025 - Sunday AM Bible Class   In this episode the Phil opens a 13-week study of the Gospel of John, outlining the scope and themes listeners can expect and offering practical evangelistic tips for starting conversations about Christ. The session introduces the teaching team—Phil Hartnady, with Jeremy Waddell and Barrett Hammer sharing teaching responsibilities across the series—and references earlier ministry perspectives from Hiram and Neil. Phil explains the rhythm of the class and previews who will lead subsequent portions. The talk begins with short, actionable advice for evangelism and a memorable framing comparison: "the Old Testament is the New Testament concealed," while the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed. The host then surveys the structure of the New Testament—four gospel accounts (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John), Acts, the epistles (Romans–Jude), and Revelation—summarizing the emphasis and audience of each gospel: Matthew to the Jews, Mark the action-oriented account, Luke the Gentile physician's perspective, and John written to the world to demonstrate Christ's unique divine identity. Most of the episode focuses on John's opening chapter and major themes: authorship (John son of Zebedee), purpose (to inspire belief—John 20:30–31), and Christ's divinity ("In the beginning was the Word..."). Phil highlights John's characterization of Jesus as Logos and emphasizes key motifs—"I AM" sayings, the Lamb of God, and the many signs and miracles that prove Jesus' authority over time, space, matter, disease, and death (with chapter/verse references and examples such as changing water to wine, healing at a distance, the blind man born blind, walking on water, and raising Lazarus). The episode also unfolds John the Baptist's witness, the calling of early disciples (Andrew, Peter, Philip, Nathanael), and the repeated invitation phrase "come and see." Phil stresses John's evangelistic urgency—how the book builds faith by bearing witness to Jesus' identity—and closes with a pastoral challenge: while becoming a Christian costs nothing because the price is paid, following Christ costs everything in terms of surrender of self and pride. Listeners can expect a mix of lecture-style exposition (reflecting the host's college teaching background), question-and-answer interaction, theological insights about Christ's nature, and practical tools for sharing the gospel. This episode sets the stage for a deep, faith-building study of John and gives clear signposts for what will be explored in later weeks.   Duration 44:20

Today's Topics: 1) Gospel - Luke 5:1-11 - While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God, He was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret. He saw two boats there alongside the lake; the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, He asked him to put out a short distance from the shore. Then He sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. After He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, "Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch." Simon said in reply, "Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at Your command I will lower the nets." When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come to help them. They came and filled both boats so that the boats were in danger of sinking. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, "Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man." For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him and all those with him, and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners of Simon. Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men." When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed Him. Bishop Sheen quote of the day 2) Cardinal Cupich and Fr. James Martin ignore Minnesota shooter's transgenderism and call for treating the symptom with more gun control while ignoring the real cause https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/cardinal-cupich-fr-james-martin-ignore-minnesota-shooters-transgenderism-call-for-more-gun-control/?utm_source=twittercath 3) President Trump stops SIX wars, so when will he get the Nobel Peace Prize? 4) Psychology: Friend or foe? What do orthodox faithful Catholics believe about the book: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) https://jesseromero.com/blog/what-do-orthodox-faithful-catholic-exorcist-believe-about-diagnostic-and-statistical-manual-0

Gospel Luke 5:1-11 While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God, he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret. He saw two boats there alongside the lake; the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch." Simon said in reply, "Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets." When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come to help them. They came and filled both boats so that the boats were in danger of sinking. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, "Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man." For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him and all those with him, and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners of Simon. Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men." When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him. Reflection What I love about this passage is that Jesus is revealing to his future disciples the essence of what he longs to accomplish while he is here on this planet. What he wants to do is to infuse people with his power, with his strength, and to be partners with him in the work of salvation history. You know, it's interesting that they weren't just called to a place where they would understand more about the mysteries of God, but they were going to be engaged in the work of God. This is so important for us to understand. It's not that we are so well versed in theology, it's that we are well versed in understanding the Spirit's presence within us. Closing Prayer Father, we have a shared task with you in this world. Bless us with confidence that you can fill us with the wisdom we need, the talent we need, the energy we need to do the work you've given us to do. Give us confidence and joy in participating in establishing the Kingdom of God with you. We ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Friends of the Rosary,In today's Gospel (Luke 5:1-11), we see a glorious invasion of grace. Christ Jesus gets into Peter's boat and commands him to put out from the shore and lower the nets for a catch.Along with James and John, the sons of Zebedee, and other fishermen, they all astonishedly caught a great number of fish.Then Simon Peter fell at the knees of Jesus and said,"Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man."Luke recounts:Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid;From now on, you will be catching men.""When they brought their boats to the shore,they left everything and followed him."Bishop Barron explains that in many ways, the whole of the spiritual life can be read off of this piece."The single most important decision that you will ever make is this: Will you cooperate with Jesus once he decides to get into your boat?""When the Lord Jesus Christ gets into your boat, he will always lead you to the spiritual depths of transformation."Ave Maria!Come, Holy Spirit, come!To Jesus through Mary!Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.Please give us the grace to respond with joy!+ Mikel Amigot w/ María Blanca | RosaryNetwork.com, New YorkEnhance your faith with the new Holy Rosary University app:Apple iOS | New! Android Google Play• ⁠September 4, 2025, Today's Rosary on YouTube | Daily broadcast at 7:30 pm ET

While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God,he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret.He saw two boats there alongside the lake;the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets.Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon,he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore.Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat.After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon,"Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch."Simon said in reply,"Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing,but at your command I will lower the nets."When they had done this, they caught a great number of fishand their nets were tearing.They signaled to their partners in the other boatto come to help them.They came and filled both boatsso that the boats were in danger of sinking.When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said,"Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man."For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized himand all those with him,and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee,who were partners of Simon.Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid;from now on you will be catching men."When they brought their boats to the shore,they left everything and followed him.

Rev. Tim Hartwig, President, Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary was preacher for this service. Luke 5:4-11: When (Jesus) had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.

Order of Service: - Psalm 63 - O Lord, I Will Sing of Your Constant Love - C. Walker: Soloist: O Lord, I will sing… / Cong.: O Lord, I will sing… You are my God, how I long for you, I thirst like a dry weary land. I gaze on you in your holy place to see how mighty and glorious you are. / O Lord, I will sing… Better than life is your holy love; my lips will speak of your praise. I bless you my God for all of my life and in your name I will lift up my hands. / O Lord, I will sing… My soul will feast and be satisfied; my mouth shall praise you with joy. At night I remember you are my help. I sing for joy for your hand keeps me safe. / O Lord, … - Luke 5:4-11: When (Jesus) had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him. - Devotion - Prayer - Hymn 449 - Thy Love, O Gracious God and Lord: vv. 1, 2, 7, 9 - Blessing - Postlude Service Participants: Rev. Tim Hartwig, President, Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary (Preacher), Rev. Prof. Dennis Marzolf (Pianist), Gabrielle Gillespie (Soloist)

Come after me, says the Lord, and I will make you fishers of men.A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 5:1-11 today's readings).For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him and all those with him, and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners of Simon. Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men."As today's Gospel begins, Jesus is standing by the shore speaking to the crowds who press in on him as they hear him teach. Seeing that Simon Peter and his partners James and John disembark, Jesus asks Peter to help him by moving out a short distance from the shore to teach the crowds. When he is done speaking, Jesus tells Simon Peter and the others: "Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch." After fishing all night and catching nothing, Peter questions Jesus but nonetheless does as he commands. What begins as Peter lends the use of his boat to Jesus ends in a catch of fish that nearly sinks both boats. Peter and the others gave a little to Jesus and find God's boundless generosity. Even more, Jesus gives Simon Peter, James, and John a purpose in following him that exceeds anything they could have accomplished in their professional life. And they abandon themselves to Christ with humility and trust. Luke tells us, "When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him."God, help instill in me the trust that Peter, James, and John have in following Jesus to be his disciples. Peter doesn't ask Jesus to lay out a step-by-step plan before following him but instead recognizes his dependence on Jesus, your Son. The fisherman Simon Peter understood that his livelihood depended on knowledge and wisdom but that there was no guarantee of success. Peter fell to his knees before Jesus, repentant. He saw knowledge and wisdom itself in the person of Jesus and responded to the call that Saint Paul speaks of in the first reading: "that you may be filled with the knowledge of God's will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord." Give me the grace, Lord, to listen out for you in trust and follow where you lead. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Matthew 4:12-25 Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. 13 And leav-ing Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: 15 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— 16 the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.” 17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 18 While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their fa-ther and followed him. 23 And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. 24 So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those hav-ing seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them. 25 And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.

John 14:12 12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.Matthew 14:22-33 22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It's a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid.”28 “Lord, if it's you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”29 “Come,” he said.Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”Luke 9:1-6 9 When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 3 He told them: “Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt. 4 Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. 5 If people do not welcome you, leave their town and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” 6 So they set out and went from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere.Luke 5:1-11 5 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret,[a] the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. 2 He saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”5 Simon answered, “Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” 9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners.Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don't be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” 11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.John 3:1-21 3 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.[a]”4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother's womb to be born!”5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit[b] gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You[c] must be born again.' 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”[d]9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.10 “You are Israel's teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man.[e] 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,[f] 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”[g]16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.Isaiah 54:2 “Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes.

Bethany has seen a lot of change over all its years of ministry. Staff have come and gone for various reasons but in everything we always remember who we are and how far we have come. Even more so, we remember who He is and what He's done. Remembering how far we've come is worth celebrating. Remembering how good God is reminds us that He is worthy of our praise.Hebrews 12:1–2 (ESV)Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.Luke 5:1–11 (ESV)On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.

3 Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand. 2 And they watched Jesus, to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. 3 And he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come here.” 4 And he said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. 5 And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. 6 The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him. A Great Crowd Follows Jesus7 Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the sea, and a great crowd followed, from Galilee and Judea 8 and Jerusalem and Idumea and from beyond the Jordan and from around Tyre and Sidon. When the great crowd heard all that he was doing, they came to him. 9 And he told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, lest they crush him, 10 for he had healed many, so that all who had diseases pressed around him to touch him. 11 And whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.” 12 And he strictly ordered them not to make him known. The Twelve Apostles13 And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. 14 And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach 15 and have authority to cast out demons. 16 He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); 17 James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder); 18 Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot, 19 and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. 20 Then he went home, and the crowd gathered again, so that they could not even eat. 21 And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, “He is out of his mind.” Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit22 And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “by the prince of demons he casts out the demons.” 23 And he called them to him and said to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. 26 And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming to an end. 27 But no one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. Then indeed he may plunder his house. 28 “Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter, 29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”— 30 for they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.” Jesus' Mother and Brothers31 And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him. 32 And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you.” 33 And he answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” 34 And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.” The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Mk 3:1–35.

Matthew 26:36-39, 45-46Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, “Sit here while I go over there to pray.” He took Peter and Zebedee's two sons, James and John, and he became anguished and distressed. He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”Then he came to the disciples and said, “… look—the time has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Up, let's be going. Look, my betrayer is here!”The most courageous moment in the history of humankind is when Jesus made the final decision to redeem us. As fully human, like you or me…He stood at the last crossroads before the actual cross and said yes for us. The turning point in that battle was when He stated, “Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”In our final day of this week's series on courage, the way we may live in confidence and express courage in the face of any trial is by stating to God: “Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”Think about the stories we have visited this week, David, Gideon, Ruth, and Esther—each one had to come to the place of saying “Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Even David the warrior would have preferred to not risk his life that day, but he knew there was a much higher purpose for his life than protecting sheep.Where in your life today are you battling a decision or struggling with a calling? Where do you need to let go and follow Jesus into saying, “Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” And even repeat His words: “Look—the time has come. Up—let's be going.” The reality for you, though, is that your decision will not end in death. In fact, your personal courage could potentially create far more life than you ever knew before.Let's pray: “Lord Jesus, thank You that You made the choice for me in the garden. You chose God's will for redemption and sacrificed your own will and life. Help me now to follow Your example and continually say to You: “Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” As above, so below.”

Presented by Lauren Stibgen When you think of your work, do you think about the most important work God has called us to? That work is to share the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and this work is a shared work for all of us who are brothers and sisters in Christ. Men and women share a critical, unified role in sharing the beautiful gift of mercy and eternity we have in Jesus! Although we see the twelve disciples Jesus calls in the New Testament are all men, we cannot choose to miss all the ways women were used by Jesus for the great work of sharing the good news! Jesus's first revelation of himself being the Messiah is to the woman at the well. This account in John 4 is significant first because Jesus is alone accepting water from a Samaritan woman. The Samaritans were the outcasts of the time, and this woman was a woman with many husbands. He breaks barriers to bring her into unity in his revelation. The best part is her response. This woman runs all the way back to town, not caring about who she is in this community but who she is in Christ, and begins to share the good news of the living water. We see Jesus with Mary and Martha and their brother Lazarus in the scriptures. Mary and Martha provided hospitality to Jesus and the disciples with meals and a place to teach. We know Jesus deeply loved Lazarus and deeply cared for Mary and Martha, which was matched by their devotion and trust for him. Not only were women part of the ministry of Jesus in his living but also in his death and resurrection. At the crucifixion in Matthew 27:55-56 we learn there were many women there, looking from a distance. These women had followed Jesus from Galilee and ministered to him, among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee. Again, this ministering could have been for physical needs like food and shelter or emotional and spiritual support during his ministry. Either way, these women, worked in unity with the men alongside Jesus. The women at the cross displayed great loyalty to the end, and they were also first to learn of the resurrection. After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb (Matthew 28:1). Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me” (Matthew 28:10). We may not see a lot about the unity between the 12 disciples and these women, but we see a more important unity—the unity between Jesus Christ and them. How are you in unity with Jesus at work today?

The fourth and final Gospel is the Book of John written by one of Jesus' disciples by that same name - he is often referred to as the son of Zebedee.  John is also credited with writing First, Second and Third John, often referred to as the Johannine Epistles and the Book of Revelations.  In the first seven chapters of his Gospel, John chronicles Jesus' interaction with John the Baptist, the calling of the first disciples, the wedding at Cana, the cleansing of the temple, the meeting with the Samaritan woman at the well and the feeding of the five thousand. Show Notes Twitter | Rumble | BitChute | Spotify | Apple -------------------------------- Support the podcast by shopping at the Truth Quest Shirt Factory. Check out our "Christian Collection" of shirts inspired by this episode which includes one with John 3:16.

1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, “Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way, 3 the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,' ” 4 John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” The Baptism of Jesus9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” The Temptation of Jesus12 The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13 And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him. Jesus Begins His Ministry14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” Jesus Calls the First Disciples16 Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” 18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19 And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20 And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him. Jesus Heals a Man with an Unclean Spirit21 And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. 22 And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. 23 And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, 24 “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” 25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” 26 And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. 27 And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” 28 And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee. Jesus Heals Many29 And immediately he left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 Now Simon's mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. 31 And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them. 32 That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. 33 And the whole city was gathered together at the door. 34 And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. Jesus Preaches in Galilee35 And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. 36 And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, 37 and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.” 38 And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.” 39 And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons. Jesus Cleanses a Leper40 And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” 41 Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.” 42 And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. 43 And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once, 44 and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” 45 But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places, and people were coming to him from every quarter. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Mk 1:1–45.

Cory Morgan (Pastor of Modern Worship & Young Adults), "Into the Deep".                 4.  “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.  5.  You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.  6.  And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.  7.  You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.  8.  You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.  9.  You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.          (Deuteronomy 6:4-9 ESV)          1.  On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret,  2.  and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. 3.  Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat.  4.  And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”  5.  And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.”  6.  And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking.          7.  They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.  8.  But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”  9.  For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken,  10.  and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.”  11.  And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.          (Luke 5:1-11 ESV)

Friends of the Rosary,Today, August 6, is the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, a commemoration which started in the 11th century and anticipates the glory of heaven, where we shall see God face to face.The Gospel of Luke (Luke 9:28b–36) recounts this event of the glorified Jesus representing the fulfillment of Old Testament revelation, symbolized by Moses as the Law and Elijah as the prophets.The Transfiguration of Christ reveals the fullness of life for every single human being. It's the will of God in His glory and luminous beauty for all of us.The transfigured Christ is an invitation for a personal relationship with the Savior.We achieve this especially through the sacraments of confession and the Eucharist, as we fall in adoration, content to be with Jesus alone.The Transfiguration took place about a year before the Passion. Jesus took with him St. Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, Sts. James and John, and led them to a retired mountain. Tradition assures us that this was Mount Thabor, which was anciently covered with green trees and was very fruitful. This was the place, in the middle of Galilee, in which the Man-God appeared in His glory.His face was altered and shone as the sun, and his garments became white as snow-white brightness. Moses and Elias were seen by the three apostles in his company on this occasion, and were heard discoursing with him of the death which he was to suffer in Jerusalem.The three apostles were delighted with this glorious vision, and St. Peter cried out to Christ, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. Let us make three tents: one for thee, one for Moses, and one for Elias.”Whilst St. Peter was speaking, there came a bright shining cloud from heaven, an emblem of the presence of God's majesty, and from out of this cloud was heard a voice which said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.”The apostles that were present, upon hearing this voice, were seized with a sudden fear, and fell upon the ground; but Jesus, going to them, touched them, and bade them to rise. They immediately did so and saw no one but Jesus standing in his ordinary state.In the Transfiguration, Christ enjoyed for a short while that glorified state which was to be permanently His after His Resurrection on Easter Sunday. The splendor of His inward Divinity and of the Beatific Vision of His soul overflowed on His body.The purpose of the Transfiguration was to encourage and strengthen the Apostles who were depressed by their Master's prediction of His own Passion and Death.The Apostles were made to understand that His redeeming work has two phases: The Cross, and Glory—that we shall be glorified with Him only if we first suffer with Him.Ave Maria!Jesus, I Trust In You!Come, Holy Spirit, come!To Jesus through Mary!Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.Please give us the grace to respond with joy!+ Mikel Amigot w/ María Blanca | RosaryNetwork.com, New YorkEnhance your faith with the new Holy Rosary University app:Apple iOS | New! Android Google Play• August 6, 2025, Today's Rosary on YouTube | Daily broadcast at 7:30 pm ET

Cory Morgan (Pastor of Modern Worship & Young Adults), "Into the Deep", Modern Worship Praise Team (11:15 Service).                 4.  “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.  5.  You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.  6.  And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.  7.  You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.  8.  You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.  9.  You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.          (Deuteronomy 6:4-9 ESV)          1.  On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret,  2.  and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. 3.  Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat.  4.  And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”  5.  And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.”  6.  And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking.          7.  They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.  8.  But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”  9.  For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken,  10.  and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.”  11.  And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.          (Luke 5:1-11 ESV)

Cory Morgan (Pastor of Modern Worship & Young Adults), "Into the Deep", Choir, Blended Worship Praise Team (8:45 Service).                 4.  “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.  5.  You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.  6.  And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.  7.  You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.  8.  You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.  9.  You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.          (Deuteronomy 6:4-9 ESV)          1.  On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret,  2.  and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. 3.  Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat.  4.  And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”  5.  And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.”  6.  And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking.          7.  They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.  8.  But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”  9.  For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken,  10.  and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.”  11.  And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.          (Luke 5:1-11 ESV)

Cory Morgan (Pastor of Modern Worship & Young Adults), "Into the Deep".                 4.  “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.  5.  You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.  6.  And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.  7.  You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.  8.  You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.  9.  You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.          (Deuteronomy 6:4-9 ESV)          1.  On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret,  2.  and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. 3.  Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat.  4.  And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”  5.  And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.”  6.  And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking.          7.  They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.  8.  But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”  9.  For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken,  10.  and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.”  11.  And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.          (Luke 5:1-11 ESV)

She was the mother of the Apostles James and John, the wife of Zebedee, and the daughter of Joseph the Betrothed, who was a widower when he became betrothed to the Mother of God. She was a disciple of the Lord and one of the Myrrh-bearing women who first brought tidings of the Resurrection to the world.

Matthew 20:20-28   The mother of the sons of Zebedee came to Jesus with her sons, and kneeling before him, she asked a favor of him. And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Declare that these two sons of mine will sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” But Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” He said to them, “You will indeed drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left, this is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” When the ten heard it, they were angry with the two brothers. But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. It will not be so among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave; just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

Full Text of ReadingsFeast of Saint James, Apostle Lectionary: 605The Saint of the day is Saint JamesSaint James’ Story This James is the brother of John the Evangelist. The two were called by Jesus as they worked with their father in a fishing boat on the Sea of Galilee. Jesus had already called another pair of brothers from a similar occupation: Peter and Andrew. “He walked along a little farther and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They too were in a boat mending their nets. Then he called them. So they left their father Zebedee in the boat along with the hired men and followed him” (Mark 1:19-20). James was one of the favored three who had the privilege of witnessing the Transfiguration, the raising to life of the daughter of Jairus, and the agony in Gethsemani. Two incidents in the Gospels describe the temperament of this man and his brother. Saint Matthew tells that their mother came—Mark says it was the brothers themselves—to ask that they have the seats of honor in the kingdom. “Jesus said in reply, ‘You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?' They said to him, ‘We can'” (Matthew 20:22). Jesus then told them they would indeed drink the cup and share his baptism of pain and death, but that sitting at his right hand or left was not his to give—it “is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father” (Matthew 20:23b). It remained to be seen how long it would take to realize the implications of their confident “We can!” The other disciples became indignant at the ambition of James and John. Then Jesus taught them all the lesson of humble service: The purpose of authority is to serve. They are not to impose their will on others, or lord it over them. This is the position of Jesus himself. He was the servant of all; the service imposed on him was the supreme sacrifice of his own life. On another occasion, James and John gave evidence that the nickname Jesus gave them—“sons of thunder”—was an apt one. The Samaritans would not welcome Jesus because he was on his way to hated Jerusalem. “When the disciples James and John saw this they asked, ‘Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?' Jesus turned and rebuked them…” (Luke 9:54-55). James was apparently the first of the apostles to be martyred. “About that time King Herod laid hands upon some members of the church to harm them. He had James, the brother of John, killed by the sword, and when he saw that this was pleasing to the Jews he proceeded to arrest Peter also” (Acts 12:1-3a). This James, sometimes called James the Greater, is not to be confused with James the Lesser or with the author of the Letter of James and the leader of the Jerusalem community. Reflection The way the Gospels treat the apostles is a good reminder of what holiness is all about. There is very little about their virtues as static possessions, entitling them to heavenly reward. Rather, the great emphasis is on the Kingdom, on God's giving them the power to proclaim the Good News. As far as their personal lives are concerned, there is much about Jesus' purifying them of narrowness, pettiness, fickleness. Saint James the Greater is the Patron Saint of: ChileLaborersNicaraguaRheumatism sufferersSpain Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Today's Topics: 1) Gospel - Matthew 20:20-28 - The mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Jesus with her sons and did Him homage, wishing to ask Him for something. He said to her, "What do you wish?" She answered Him, "Command that these two sons of mine sit, one at Your right and the other at Your left, in Your Kingdom." Jesus said in reply, "You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?" They said to Him, "We can." He replied, "My chalice you will indeed drink, but to sit at My right and at My left, this is not Mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared by My Father." When the ten heard this, they became indignant at the two brothers. But Jesus summoned them and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave. Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many." Feast of Saint James, Apostle Saint James, pray for us! Bishop Sheen quote of the day Terry discusses the dangers of organ donation and how many organ donors are still alive as their organs are removed

Gospel Matthew 20:20-28 The mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Jesus with her sons and did him homage, wishing to ask him for something. He said to her, "What do you wish?" She answered him, "Command that these two sons of mine sit, one at your right and the other at your left, in your Kingdom." Jesus said in reply, "You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?" They said to him, "We can." He replied, "My chalice you will indeed drink, but to sit at my right and at my left, this is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father." When the ten heard this, they became indignant at the two brothers. But Jesus summoned them and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave. Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Reflection This seems like such a human story. And in the eyes of the other disciples, it seems that James and John basically put their mother up to this. We really want a position of power and authority. And it just shows how far they are, in a sense, from the Kingdom of God.  But what is so essential in this reading is an understanding that the great shadow of anyone in a ministry position that gives them this sense of power is so dangerous that anyone in the role of ministry has to be checking themselves over and over again, to make sure they're not caught up in seeking an authority over people, but only looking for ways in which to serve them. Closing Prayer Father, we are human, and we never lose our humanity, and there's always a pull, a desire to be seen as someone important. Someone valuable. It gives us a sense of worth, a sense of value. Free us from that addiction to always looking for approval. And never let us use it in a way that overpowers the rights of others in favor of what our ego longs for. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Friends of the Rosary,Today, July 25th, is the Feast of St. James, the Apostle, known as the Greater, to distinguish him from the other Apostle St. James the Lesser, who was chosen later.James was the cousin of Jesus Christ and the brother of John the Apostle. With Peter and John, James witnessed the Transfiguration on Mount Tabor. He was also in the Garden of Gethsemane during Jesus' agony.The son of Zebedee the fisherman from Galilee was called by Jesus Boanerges, "son of thunder.”He was beheaded in Jerusalem in the year 42 or 43 A.D. on the orders of King Herod Agrippa, becoming the first apostle to receive the crown of martyrdom.His relics were transported and later discovered in the ninth century in Spain. Since then, the medieval pilgrimage to St. James of Compostela, known as the Camino de Santiago ("the Way of St. James"), has attracted immense crowds across the centuries. The pilgrim paths to Compostela, in Galicia, form a network throughout Europe, dotted with hospices and chapels. St. James is the patron saint of Spain and pilgrims.Ave Maria!Jesus, I Trust In You!Come, Holy Spirit, come!To Jesus through Mary!Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.Please give us the grace to respond with joy!+ Mikel Amigot w/ María Blanca | RosaryNetwork.com, New YorkEnhance your faith with the new Holy Rosary University app:Apple iOS | New! Android Google Play• ⁠July 25, 2025, Today's Rosary on YouTube | Daily broadcast at 7:30 pm ET

The mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Jesus with her sonsand did him homage, wishing to ask him for something.He said to her,"What do you wish?"She answered him,"Command that these two sons of mine sit,one at your right and the other at your left, in your Kingdom."Jesus said in reply,"You do not know what you are asking.Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?"They said to him, "We can."He replied,"My chalice you will indeed drink,but to sit at my right and at my left, this is not mine to givebut is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father."When the ten heard this,they became indignant at the two brothers.But Jesus summoned them and said,"You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them,and the great ones make their authority over them felt.But it shall not be so among you.Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant;whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be servedbut to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Read Online“You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?” They said to him, “We can.” He replied, “My chalice you will indeed drink, but to sit at my right and at my left, this is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”  Matthew 20:22–23Saint James was the brother of the beloved disciple John and the son of Zebedee and Salome. Jesus called both James and John while they were working with their father, mending their fishing nets in their boat. Their response to Jesus' call was immediate: “...they left their father Zebedee in the boat along with the hired men and followed him” (Mark 1:20). James was present at the raising of Jarius' daughter, the Transfiguration, and is mentioned a few other times in the Gospels. In the Acts of the Apostles, James is identified as the first of the Apostles to give his life as a martyr, being beheaded by Herod in Jerusalem in the year 44 AD (See Acts 12:2).Among the other references to Saint James in the Gospels is the passage quoted above in which Salome, the mother of James and John, asks Jesus for the unique favor of allowing her two sons to sit at His left and right in His Kingdom. Upon her request on behalf of her two sons, Jesus turns to them and asks if they can drink the chalice that He is going to drink, to which they respond, “We can.” And though this is a bold request on their parts and that of their mother, there is also something courageous and holy about their request.Just prior to this passage, as Jesus journeyed to Jerusalem with the Twelve, He explained to them the fate that awaited Him. “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and scourged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day” (Matthew 20:18–19). This was the third time that Jesus explained this to the Twelve and, therefore, it must have started to truly sink in. It is within this context that James and John ask to remain close to Jesus in His mission of establishing His Kingdom, even though Jesus explained that the path to that Kingdom was His suffering and death.Each of us should learn from James and John. Though their request might have had some selfishness mixed in with it, it was also courageous. It showed they did not fear Jesus' prediction of His passion. Instead, they wanted to be part of it and were willing to endure whatever was necessary so as to share in the glory of the Kingdom to come. Reflect, today, upon making a similar request to our Lord. Say to Him that you desire to be close to Him in His Kingdom, and do so with the full knowledge that the path to this glory is by drinking the chalice of selfless sacrifice that Christ drank. It is obtained by courageously following Him, no matter what that requires of you. If that means suffering and persecution, so be it. If that means great sacrifice, so be it. If that means abandoning certain hopes and dreams, so be it. See yourself walking with these disciples and Jesus on the road to Jerusalem where our Lord would offer His life in sacrifice. Saint James would soon follow, dying by the sword of Herod. Say “Yes” to whatever our Lord asks of you and commit yourself to the drinking of the chalice of selfless sacrificial love. Doing so will enable you to share in the glory of the Kingdom of Heaven. My glorious King, You invite all people to share in Your glorious Kingdom to come. May I enter that Kingdom with all the saints and fully share in its glory. I choose that path that leads to that Kingdom and willingly offer my life in sacrifice to You and for others. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: Sons of Thunder by Lawrence OP, license CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Followers of Jesus should be the BEST LEADERS on the planet.Jesus is the GREATEST LEADERSHIP MODEL of all time.Leadership is INFLUENCEIf leadership is influence, then no one has influenced our world more thanJESUS.The HEART of a LEADER.Proverbs 4:23 Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows fromit.WHATHOWWHY1. RESPONSIBILITY Based leadership-you feel responsible to SERVEand CARE for the people you lead.2. REWARDS based leadership-you want to be rewarded by the PERKSand POWER of leading.When you BEND down to SERVE, God will LIFT you up to LEAD.Matthew 20:20-27 Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Jesus with her sonsand, kneeling down, asked a favor of him. “What is it you want?” he asked. Shesaid, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the otherat your left in your kingdom.”   “You don't know what you are asking,” Jesus saidto them. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” “We can,” they answered.Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right orleft is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have beenprepared by my Father.” When the ten heard about this, they were indignant withthe two brothers.   Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers ofthe Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority overthem. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you mustbe your servant,   and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—SERVANT-focused on doing things for others rather than for oneself.SLAVE-someone bound to obey their master's commands and teaching.If you lead for ANY reason other than to SERVE OTHERS, you will never bea GREAT LEADER.It is impossible to LEAD like Jesus if you won't SERVE like Jesus.Matthew 20:28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, andto give his life as a ransom for many.”Servant Leader vs Reward Centered Leader1. Servant leaders are always trying to make OTHER PEOPLE look good.Reward centered leaders don't want OTHERS to look good, onlyTHEMSELVES.2. Servant Leaders find their approval in one place: GOD.Reward centered leaders believe:My PERFORMANCE + the APPROVAL of others = SELF-WORTH3. Servant leaders LOVE hard or negative feedback because it allows them toIMPROVE for the benefit of others.Reward centered leaders DESPISE hard or negative feedback because it is allABOUT THEM.So what keeps us from being a servant leader?- PRIDE- FEARProverbs 29:25 Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts inthe Lord is kept safe.When you BEND DOWN to serve, God can LIFT YOU UP to LEAD.

Mark 1:16-20 16 As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 17 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." 18 At once they left their nets and followed him. 19 When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. 20 Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.  NIV 84 Discussion Points and Questions 1. The 2008 USA Men's Olympic Basketball team, also known as the "Redeem Team", got to experience the thrill of winning Olympic Gold in Beijing, China. - What are some fond memories/experiences you have of being on a team? 2. "Pupils chose rabbis; rabbis did not choose pupils." - Timothy Keller Simon, Andrew, James, and John did not take a "blind leap of faith" in following Jesus. (John 1:35-42) They made an intentional choice. - Why is this difference an important aspect in this story? Why is this difference an important aspect in our relationship with Jesus? 3. The word "follow" shows up three different times in Mark 1:16-20. Each of these instances reveals a different aspect of what it means to follow Jesus. - Verse 17 "Follow me" = to follow Jesus is to pursue Jesus. - Verse 18 "followed him" = to follow Jesus is to join Jesus. - Verse 20 "followed him" = to follow Jesus is to be like Jesus.  - As you think about these different aspects of following Jesus, which one speaks the most to you? Why? 4. In Jeremiah 16, Ezekiel 12, Amos 4, and Habakkuk 1 we see the imagery of fishing being used to describe the divine judgment of God. With this in mind, the phrase "fishers of men" is more than just a clever play on words. It's in this phrase that Jesus connects His message (verses 14-15) to His promise (verse 17). - When you think about your current season of life, responsibilities/titles, those you are around, etc. where and how is Jesus wanting to use you as a "fisher of men"?

Greatness in the kingdom of God is rooted in humility and sacrificial service. So, we see that greatness is achievable for all of us. It's not dependent on your title, position, location, influence, or anything else. Greatness is achieved when we serve others. All of us can do this today.Main Points:1. Our culture sees greatness as record-breaking achievements, success, influence, power, position, fame, and notoriety. But God sees it differently.2. Consider this: Jesus, the Son of God, the King of Kings, chose to serve rather than be served. In a culture that revered positions of authority, Jesus shattered expectations by washing the disciples' feet and living a life marked by humility and selflessness.3. Whether in the workplace, our families, or communities, let us remember the example set by the ultimate servant-leader, Jesus Christ. May our lives reflect His humility, compassion, and commitment to serving others.Today's Scripture Verses:Mark 10:35-37 - “Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.” Mark 10:42-25 - “Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

Today's Topics: 1, 2, 3, 4) Father Charles Murr joins Terry Gospel - Matthew 10:1-7 - Jesus summoned His Twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness. The names of the Twelve Apostles are these: first, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus; Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus. Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus, "Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town. Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make this proclamation: 'The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.'" Memorial of Saint Augustine Zhao Rong, Priest, and Companions, Martyrs Saint Augustine and Companions, pray for us! Bishop Sheen quote of the day

Gospel Matthew 10:1-7 Jesus summoned his Twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness. The names of the Twelve Apostles are these: first, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus; Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus. Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus, "Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town. Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make this proclamation: 'The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.'" Reflection The Old Testament, it's a long story of God working with a group of people, the Jews. And wanted so much for them to understand the fullness of the kingdom of God that was to come through the work of Jesus. What we see in this passage is Jesus giving authority to his disciples to go and to preach and teach his message. And it's fascinating, in Matthew's Gospel that he doesn't send his disciples to the Gentiles, but to the house of Israel. And he's hoping maybe in a last ditch effort, hoping that he can convert the Jews to understanding that Jesus is the fullness of God the Father. Closing Prayer Father, you have never truly left the Israelite people. You continue to long for them to understand fully who you are. And when you send your disciples first to them, we see clearly a sign in you that you long for things, even though it may take centuries for them to change. Ultimately, when the kingdom comes, they will change. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Friends of the Rosary,Priests, bishops, cardinals, and popes throughout the centuries are the descendants of the twelve apostles of the Lord, who Christ Jesus summoned at that time to proclaim the kingdom of heaven, as we read today in the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 10:1-7).These first disciples and apprentices were sent on a mission with the authority to drive out demons and unclean spirits and cure every disease and illness.They were instructed to rescue "the lost sheep of the house of Israel.""The names of the Twelve Apostles are these:first, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew;James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John;Philip and Bartholomew,Thomas and Matthew the tax collector;James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus;Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariotwho betrayed Jesus."Ave Maria!Jesus, I Trust In You!Come, Holy Spirit, come!To Jesus through Mary!Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.Please give us the grace to respond with joy!+ Mikel Amigot w/ María Blanca | RosaryNetwork.com, New YorkEnhance your faith with the new Holy Rosary University app:Apple iOS | New! Android Google Play• ⁠July 9, 2025, Today's Rosary on YouTube | Daily broadcast at 7:30 pm ET

To become a follower of Jesus, visit: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/MeetJesus (NOT a Morning Mindset resource) ⇒ Listen to our other podcasts: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Mark 10:35–40 - [35] And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” [36] And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” [37] And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” [38] Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” [39] And they said to him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized, [40] but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” (ESV) ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE MORNING MINDSET: (not tax-deductible) -- Become a monthly partner: https://mm-gfk-partners.supercast.com/ -- Support a daily episode: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/daily-sponsor/ -- Give one-time: https://give.cornerstone.cc/careygreen -- Venmo: @CareyNGreen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FOREIGN LANGUAGE VERSIONS OF THIS PODCAST: SPANISH version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Spanish HINDI version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Hindi CHINESE version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Chinese  ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ CONTACT: Carey@careygreen.com  ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖~ THEME MUSIC: “King’s Trailer” – Creative Commons 0 | Provided by https://freepd.com/ ***All NON-ENGLISH versions of the Morning Mindset are translated using A.I. Dubbing and Translation tools from DubFormer.ai ***All NON-ENGLISH text content (descriptions and titles) are translated using the A.I. functionality of Google Translate.