May I have a WORD with you?

John
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Helping ordinary people read the Bible for the sake of life application and a godly transformation. In other words, for the sake of becoming more like Jesus.

  1. 3D AGO

    Ep 134 (S8E2) What Is the Gospel: Power for Salvation

    References: Romans 1:16-17Gospel - εὐαγγέλιον (yoo-ang-ghel'-ee-on)A reward for good tidings - see 2 Samuel 4Good tidings - 2 Samuel 18Mark 1:14-15 - the good news aboutPhilippians 1:5-27 - 7X in 22 vssNot Ashamed - ἐπαισχύνομαι (ep-ahee-skhoo'-nom-ahee)The world’s opposition to the GospelUnashamednessGalatians 1-2Another Gospel?False Gospel μεταστρέφω (met-as-tref'-o)turning 2X - Acts 2 quoting Joel, James 4:9Corrupted, twisted, distorted - Gal 1:7 1 Thess 1:4-7Power in sufferingvs 6 - joy with trouble, affliction, severe sufferingJustification - Article 4 of the Augsburg Confession“We teach that men cannot be justified before God by their own strength, merits or works, but are freely justified for Christ’s sake through faith, when they believe that they are received into favor and that their sins are forgiven for Christ’s sake, who by His death has made satisfaction for our sins. This faith God accounts as righteousness in His sight, Rom. 3 and 4.”Solas - by grace alone, through faith alone, according to the Word of God alone (two others)Grace - God’s Riches At Christ’s ExpenseMercy - not to receive what I deserveGrace - to receive what I don’t deserve

    34 min

  2. MAY 1

    Ep 133 (S8E1) A Daily Word from the Lord

    References: The Command - Isaiah 55:6-7Seek - imperative (command)Call - also imperativeSteps of repentanceThe urgency of “while you can find Him,” and “while He is near.”If you feel far from God, who moved?He will never leave or forsakeForsaking of wicked ways - see ESVBanishing of evil thoughts - see NLTReceiving the abundantly generous forgivenessOur Transcendant God - Isa 55:8-9Reality Check - don’t project your constraints, opinions or hurts onto GodThoughts - מַחֲשָׁבָה (makh-ash-aw-baw')Gen 6:51 Chron 28:9Ps 94:5-12 MSGHigher - גָּבַהּ  (gaw-bah')Exalted - God’s waysHaughty - human waysThe Majesty of MysteryWe squirm when God and God’s ways don’t make sense to us.But rejoice that God’s mercy and forgiveness are so far above our ability to be merciful and forgivingGod’s Word is Powerful!Agricultural exampleAs rain and snow are to physical lifeSo is God’s word to spiritual lifePromised PowerIt produces fruitIt accomplishes God’s intended purposeGod is not into idle talkHis words are intentionalPurposeful SendingIt is prosperousApplication Challenge:This week, identify one "thought" or "way" that you need to surrender to God's "higher way." Spend one minute each morning reading these six verses slowly, asking God to let His Word "water" your heart like rain on dry ground.Then spend another four minutes reading a paragraph or two in the New Testament. See what fruit comes in your life from the practice

    34 min

  3. APR 24

    Ep 132 (S7E17) Hope in Grief: God is Good

    References: Grief, suffering, hardship, pain… These are not signs of God’s abandonment or condemnation.Romans 8:35, 37-39Counter cultural The promise that allows people of faith to grieve differentlyPaul’s last letter, near the end of his life (martyrdom)2 Timothy 2:1-14The reality of discipleshipWhat witness do you bear when you are suffering?Endurance - κακοπαθέω (kak-op-ath-eh'-o)to suffer (endure) evils (hardships, troubles), to be afflictedUsed 4 times in NT3X in 2 Tim1X in James 5:13Three images, metaphorsSoldier - command and obedienceAthlete - coach and trainingFarmer - bearing fruit and receiving the blessingVs 7 - Think about what I am saying. The Lord will help you understand all these things.The trustworthy saying - vs 11-13If we die with Him… - baptism?If we endure hardship… - the Christian witness?If we deny Him… - a full comprehension of and rejection of grace?If we are faithless… - even when I can’t trust Him, He remains trustworthy.2 Tim 2:14’s words!λογομαχέω (log-om-akh-eh'-o) logomachyLogomachy - a dispute, argument, or "war of words" centered on the meaning, usage, or interpretation of words rather than on substantial issues.A compound of logos (words) and machomai (strive or fight)A NT hapax legomenonκαταστροφή (kat-as-trof-ay') catastropheIn 2 Timothy 2:14 and2 Peter 2:62 Timothy 4:9-18Paul is sufferingBut not despairingWhat about you and me?

    35 min

  4. APR 17

    Eph 131 (S7E16) Where the Power Lies

    References: Still being in the season of Easter I wanted to share with you some powerful insights the Lord laid on my heart that I shared with people at our late Good Friday Service.Reading the Passion According to St John 18:1-19:42Three images of powerJohn 18:3-9John 19:5-11John 19:25-27The display of worldly power met by True PowerAs the contingent arrived with torches, clubs and weapons, Jesus “stepped forward.”Jesus interrogated this group, “who are you looking for?”When they said Jesus the Nazarene, Jesus said “I Am.” - Ἐγώ εἰμι - ego eimiMoses asking God at the burning bush “Who should I say sent me?” God responded with “I Am that I Am. Tell them ‘I Am’ sent you.”At Jesus’ declaration of the divine name, the one’s who thought they had all the power were defeated, knocked over.The person who had the worldly power in that entire region is corrected by the I Am with all the real power.Pilate brings the scourged, abused, bloodied, thorn crowned Jesus out to the people following the strong-arming of the soldiers.The religious leaders say Jesus deserves to die because He claimed to be “son of god.”I put son and god in lower case to suggest how Pilate may have heard these words.That would have reminded him of how the Roman Emperor would take the name “divi filius,” Latin for son of god.Pilate plays his last power card.Don’t you realize I have the authority to set you free or crucify you?Jesus corrects Pilate. You have no authority except what has been given to you from My Father.In Jesus’ final sayings from the cross He demonstrates the power to still obey His Father by keeping the 5th of the 10 commandments.Honor your father and mother.Jesus saw to the completion of His obedience by entrusting John with it’s fulfillment.He calls us to fulfill His love for others by the new commandment to love others as we’ve been loved by Jesus.

    34 min

  5. APR 10

    Ep 130 (S7E15) Beware OR Be Aware of the Yeast

    References: The Passover is a time when Jewish households do a thourough cleaning of the home to be sure all leaven is removed.Deep Cleaning: Homes are thoroughly cleaned, including searching for and removing all crumbs of chametz.Symbolism: This process represents cleaning out the spiritual "leaven" (pride or sin) from within.Bedikat Chametz: A ritual search for the remaining leaven occurs on the night before Passover, followed by burning the collected items.Jesus told his disciples to “beware the yeast of the Pharisees and Saducees.”Matthew 16:1-12 - v 6: προσέχω (pros-ekh'-o)to bring to, bring nearto turn the mind to, attend to be attentivegive attention to, take heedto devote thought and effort to1 Corinthians 5:6-8 - ζύμη (dzoo'-may)leavenmetaph. of inveterate mental and moral corruption, viewed in its tendency to infect othersSee also Gal 5:2-10Jesus also used ζύμη to teach about the Kingdom of heaven (God). Matthew 13:33 & Luke 13:20-21The Kingdom is like… a simile (yeast in dough) Only used here in Mt and Lk σάτον (sat'-on) - measurea kind of dry measure, 3 gallons (14 litres)14 liters of all-purpose flour is approximately equal to 16.33 pounds.50 lbs of flour!!! Jesus is making a point here.Think: the dough is our world represented by the 50 lbs of flour, and God’s Kingdom spreads through it all as represented by the leaven. So, beware, but be aware.

    34 min

  6. APR 3

    Ep 129 (S7E14) The Holy Triduum

    References: The “Holy”Holy - ἅγιος (hag'-ee-os): most holy thing, a saint229 times in 219 vss in NTOften associated with the Spirit (Holy Spirit)Sometimes with placesThe holy city, being JerusalemThe Holiest place in the tabernacle The Holy of holies in the Temple (Heb 9)Hagiography vs damnatio memoriaeThe Holy “Triduum” -  not a Biblical word. Latin for three days (Maundy Thu, Good Fri, Holy Sat)History that impacted our history of the Holy TriduumThe Gospel’s story in relation to the Passion NarrativesMatthew - 28.6%Total chapters = 28Chapters focused on Holy Week = 8Mark - 37.5%Total Chapters = 16Chapters focused on Holy Week = 6Luke - 23%Total Chapters = 24Chapters focused on Holy Week = 5.5John - 47.6%Total Chapters = 21Chapters focused on Holy Week = 10All total, the narrative of the last week of Jesus’ life through the resurrection makes up over one third of the total Gospel witness.Many scholars have quipped that the Gospels are about the last week of Jesus’ ministry with an extended introduction.The Early Church (1st–3rd Century)The Fourth Century ExpansionMedieval Shifts20th Century onTheological SignificanceThe Counting of the "Three Days": Following the Jewish liturgical tradition, a day begins at sunset.Day 1: Thursday evening (The Last Supper, foot washing and the “new” command).Day 2: Friday evening (Crucifixion, death and burial).Day 3: Saturday (Quiet, waiting, pause).Continuous Liturgy: Liturgically, it is treated as one event. There is no final blessing on Holy ThursdayNo opening greeting on Good Friday. The comemoration that begins Thursday evening does not formally conclude until the end of the Easter Vigil.Application1. Holy Thursday (The Lord's Last Supper, Holy Communion )2. Good Friday (Celebration of the Lord's Passion)3. Holy Saturday & The Easter Vigil

    37 min

  7. MAR 27

    Ep 128 (S7E13) Joel - Pt 5: THE Day of the Lord

    References: ReviewSetting and background/context of JoelStructurePoem 1 - 1:1-20Poem 2 - 2:1-17God’s response - 2:18-27God will defeat the invaders - 2:20-21God will restore the land - 2:22-26God will dwell with His people - 2:27THE Day of the Lord - 2:28-3:16THE Day of the Lord in three mirrored parts begins with God’s presenceGod with us - 2:28-32 (Chapter 3 in the Hebrew text)“I will pour out my Spirit…” Not just fill the Temple, but …Upon all people: young & old, male & female, sons and daughters & servantsOld will dream, young will prophesy & see visionsActs 2, Pentecost and the beginning of the endCosmic signs, including a blood moon (3/3)blood and fire and columns of smokeἡμέρα (hay-mer'-ah) יוֹם (yome)  a dayany part of a day (thus three days could be one whole day and a part of the day before and after)of the last day of this present age, the day Christ will return from heaven, raise the dead, hold the final judgment, and perfect his kingdomSalvation for those who call on the Name (Yahweh)God will confront evil - Joel 3:1-16Vss 1-8 - The word of the Lord against those who oppose God and God’s peopleVss 9-16 - a poetic picture of God’s judgement on evilCompare v 10 with Isa 2:4 and Micah 4:3-4Compare v 13 with Isa 63:3-6 and Rev 14:19-20Restoration of everything - Joel 3:17-21Compare v 18 with Ez 47, Zech 14 and Rev 22Conclusion

    37 min

  8. MAR 20

    Ep 127 (S7E12) Joel - Pt 4: God’s response: Mercy to Hope

    References: ReviewSetting and background/context of JoelStructurePoem 1 - 1:1-20Poem 2 - 2:1-17God’s response - 2:18-27THE Day of the Lord - 2:28-3:16Joel 2:18-19 - God will take pityA turning point - upon repentance God shows love for the land and His peopleAnswered prayer - grain, wine, oil = satisfactionShame removed - the surrounding nations that once mocked Israel will be silencedGod’s response in three partsGod will defeat the invaders - 2:20-21From the north? Assyria? Babylon? Northern armies   צָפוֹן  (tsef-o-nee') from   צְפוֹנִי(tsaw-fone')  The call of Jeremiah Jer 1:13-14Calling the northern kingdom (Israel) back Jer 3:11-13possibly how people moved along the fertile crescent.Into the eastern sea and the western sea (Dead & Mediterranean) - meaning complete victoryThe stench of death as a great reminderStink בְּאשׁ (be-oshe') foul odorStench צַחֲנָה (tsakh-an-aw') only here in Joel Poetic way of saying total annihilation of the enemy  God will restore the land - 2:22-26Restoration to the animals and treesRestoration to the threshing floor and wine & olive pressesRestoration of what the locusts stole (remember four locusts from 1:4Locust #1 גָּזָם (gaw-zawm)Locust #2 אַרְבֶּה (ar-beh’) most common in OTLocust #3 יֶלֶק (yeh'-lek) young locustLocust #4 חָסִיל (khaw-seel') God will dwell with His people - 2:27

    35 min
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Helping ordinary people read the Bible for the sake of life application and a godly transformation. In other words, for the sake of becoming more like Jesus.

Information

  • Creator
    John
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    134
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 May I have a WORD with you?
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    May I have a WORD with you?

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