Afleveringen
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Weâre back in the book of Ezra, walking with the exiles who answered the call to return to Jerusalem. For most of them, staying would have been easier. Just like the Jews in the Old Testament itâs easy to stay in our comfort zones, forgetting the privilege of sacrificing for God's call on our lives. In todayâs episode, weâre talking about the high call of studying and obeying Godâs word, living a life worthy of our call, and giving our all for Christ. And weâll remember that nothing can be accomplished without the grace of God in our lives.
Episode Points
You can only obey what you know, and you can only teach what youâve obeyed.
Godâs call on your life will require sacrifice. But itâs worth it!
Since weâre called to handle holy things, we must live holy lives.
Your calling can only be accomplished by Godâs grace.
Scripture References
Ezra 7:1-6, 10
Ezra 7:13, 27-28
Ezra 8:15
Ezra 8:28-29
Ezra 9:8-9
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Itâs all too easy to hang on to the old when God is doing a new thing. In todayâs episode, weâre looking at the exilesâ return to Jerusalem to rebuild Godâs temple. Some had hoped God would help them rebuild what they had before. What the people didnât understand is that God was doing a new thing.
Like the exiles, sometimes we look around at whatâs broken-down or overgrown in our lives, and we canât imagine that God wants (and is able) to do something new. Todayâs episode will encourage you to embrace âthe day of small things,â to get going with what God wants you to do even if things arenât âjust right,â and to remember that just because we face opposition, it doesnât mean Godâs call on our lives has ceased.
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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Today weâre talking about the powerâand challengeâof forgiveness, and why itâs so essential. Unforgiveness causes division in our relationships, is a strategy of the enemy, and disrupts our intimacy with Christ. On the positive side, Jesus empowers us to forgive, desires that weâre free from bitterness and anger, and loves reconciliation. Also, He is able to bring about justice.
If forgiveness is essential, why is it so hard? In this episode, weâll examine three reasons that make it challenging, as well as several benefits. Ultimately weâll discover that forgiving others isnât only a gift to the person who hurt us, but itâs one of Godâs gifts to us.
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Today weâre looking at the liberating healing of Jesus, and how that healing can sometimes be disruptive. Be encouraged, if the healing Jesus is bringing you is uncomfortable or even painful, youâre on the right path. If weâre honest, we often want His healing, but we want it on our terms. In this episode, weâll confront the ways our unhealthy habits keep us from the good work He wants to do in our lives.
Are we willing to abandon our own plans and comforts so that He can fully lead and have authority in our lives? Will we offer up all areas of our lives so that we can most experience His abundant life? Weâre going to challenge ourselves to answer these difficult questions and find true freedom in giving it all over to Jesus, the One who is worth our all. I hope this episode will encourage you to surrender more fully to Him.
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Today weâre looking at the significance of the cross and what it means for us. What specifically did the cross accomplish? Why was it necessary? And what hope does it offer for the present? Weâre going to dive in deep (get ready for some big words!) as we talk about how Jesus acted as our substitute, not only taking our sin upon Himself on the cross, but wiping it out completely. And by doing so, freely bringing us into relationship with Himself. Youâll be blessed by this closer look at Jesusâs death on the cross and His love for you.
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I just returned from the Amazon jungle, where I spent a week with jungle pastors who serve along the Amazon river. Iâll talk about some of the lessons I learned from them in todayâs episode. And how they helped me better understand Paulâs encouragement to run our race for the ultimate prize.
Their encouragement to us will help us step out of our comfort zones and into the boat with Jesus (something the people on the Amazon River do literally). I hope todayâs episode encourages you to run the race that Jesus has for you. He will lead you if youâre willing to follow Him.
Episode Points
1. If weâre reaping spiritually, we should be giving generously.
2. We will only live spiritually disciplined lives if our prize is in focus.
3. âFollowing Jesus was worth it then, itâs worth it now, itâs worth it all.â Pastor Gioval
Kellyâs first devotional book is available now! 'The Blessed Life' is for anyone willing to take a thoughtful, 90-day journey through the mind, heart, and work of Jesus. Check it out here.
Scripture References
1 Corinthians 9:9-12
1 Corinthians 9: 24-27
Quote Kelly Mentioned: âIn context, the overall argument has to do with putting others before self in order to maximize oneâs effectiveness for the gospel, which requires rigorous self-discipline.â Mark Taylor, New American Commentary, 1 Cor.
How Do We Cultivate This in Our Lives?
Take some time to reflect on these questions after you read the passage and listen to the podcast:
What are some areas in your life God may be asking you to make sacrifices?
How can you support those who are impacting your spiritual walk?
Are you living for the ultimate prize or focusing on more temporal rewards?
Stuff We Think Youâll Like
In this episode, Kelly reads Day 59, âThe New and Greater Moses,â from her brand new book, The Blessed Life: A 90-Day Devotional Through the Teachings and Miracles of Jesus. Order yours here.
Kellyâs most recent Bible study release on the book of Ruth called: Ruth: Loss, Love & Legacy.
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In todayâs episode, weâre looking at the story of a woman in Luke 8 who was healed of a physical illness. But Jesus did more than heal her physically. Weâll leave the details for the podcast, but Jesus stopped (in the middle of a pressing situation) and gave this woman more than she even knew to hope for. Jesus loved her too much to let her settle for mere physical healing. He wanted to take away her shame.
Sometimes we ask Jesus for too little. Sometimes we come to Him for one thing but what we really need is something totally different. I hope todayâs episode will encourage you to let Him have His way in your life. He knows what you need.
Episode Points
1. Godâs grace is not bound by time or location.
2. Godâs grace can handle your whole truth.
3. Godâs grace does more than we think we need.
4. The enemy comes to shame; Jesus comes to restore.
Kellyâs first devotional book releases today, February 7th! The Blessed Life is for anyone willing to take a thoughtful, 90-day journey through the mind, heart, and work of Jesus. Check it out here.
Scripture References
Luke 8:40-48
Mark 5:33
1 John 1:9
How Do We Cultivate This in Our Lives?
Take some time to reflect on these questions after you read the passage and listen to the podcast:
âą Are your expectations of God too low?
âą Does Jesus want to do more in your life than you want Him to?
âą Are you resisting Him?
âą Have you allowed Him to tend to all of you (your whole truth?)
Stuff We Think Youâll Like
In this episode, Kelly reads Day 81, âTaking Away Our Shame,â from her brand new book, The Blessed Life: A 90-Day Devotional Through the Teachings and Miracles of Jesus. Order yours here.
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A new year comes with much to do, plan for, and be excited about. But, at the start of these 365 days, itâs important that we take time to position our hearts before the Lord. Itâs easy to focus on all of the doing, but what if we focus on the beingâbeing at the feet of Jesus and listening to what He has to say to us? When we spend time with Him, our serving and productivity will flow out of that time.
In this episode, weâre looking at Mary and Marthaâs encounter with Jesus in Luke 10:38-42. He called them to a place of discipleship and a posture of choosing quality time with Him as superior to being anxiously busy for Him. Jesus invited these two sisters, as he invites us, to a deeper communion with Him. He said that this is the better choice because time spent with Him can never be taken away. Donât we want to be about the things that can never be taken away from us?
We donât know what the year ahead holds, the hard times and the good times, but the quality time we invest with Jesus today is treasure stored for tomorrow. At the end of these 365 days, I want to have stored up something special. I want Jesus to look at our livesâour love for Him and for others, the time that we spend with Him and the time that we give to othersâand say, âThat is a treasure.â
January is the perfect time to start a Bible study. Check out Kellyâs newest study, Ruth: Loss, Love & Legacy (video access included with study),and also her study, Encountering God, which is about the spiritual disciplinesâa great focus for the new year.
Cultivate is brought to you in part by the Dwell Bible App. Save 30% at dwellapp.io/Cultivate.
Cultivate is sponsored in part by "When You Pray." Find out more at Lifeway.com/WhenYouPray
Check out Kelly's new book "The Blessed Life" at TheBlessedLifeBook.com or search for it on Amazon.
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Itâs Christmas time, and we all have expectations this season. Some are materialâwhat gifts are we going to receive? What experiences are we going to have? Some are relationalâwill we finally get engaged? Will the grandbabies be visiting?
Expectations are fine as long as we manage them instead of letting them manage us. If weâre not careful, unmet expectations can turn us into people we donât want to be. Who do you want to be during the holidays?
In this episode, two womenâElizabeth and Maryâare going to give us an incredible, real-life, non-sugar-coated example of who we can be this holiday season. We find them in Luke chapter 1, right before the first Christmas. At their meeting, we see their mutual joy in being in each otherâs presence because of Godâs work in their lives. These women show us itâs a gift to be in community without jealousy, to bless other people with our words and welcome them into our hearts.
When we remember Christmas isnât about us, we find enduring joy. Thereâs nothing better than going into this season with Jesus as Savior and Lord of our lives. It exceeds any and all of our expectations.
If youâd like to go deeper in the Word, Kelly has a brand new Bible study on the book of Ruth! You can even download the first week for free. Check out Ruth: Loss, Love & Legacy at www.lifeway.com/Ruth
Cultivate is brought to you in part by the Dwell Bible App. Save 30% at dwellapp.io/Cultivate.
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During difficult seasons, we can be tempted to turn back to our old ways of numbing pain. We can begin to question if God is actually good and if he cares about us. But these are not the times to forfeit what we have with Him. These are the times to struggle and weep with our faces pointed toward the Lord, trusting who he is when we canât see what lies ahead.
I can hardly wait to start studying the book of Ruth with you in todayâs Cultivate podcast. As we look at the first chapter, weâll see three women showing us different ways of weeping. One goes back to her old life, the second turns toward God with bitterness, and the third turns toward Him with total commitment amidst the unknown. Her storyâthe story of Ruthâis a beautiful picture of how God is not limited by our impossible circumstances.
Weeping will come for all of us, but the direction we weep in is what makes the difference. I hope this episode will encourage you to turn toward Jesus, continuing with the things he has called you to do. There will be a day that your tears will reap shouts of joy (Ps. 126:5-6).
Scripture References
Ruth 1:1-18; Psalm 126:5-6
How do we cultivate this in our lives?
Determine the direction you want to go. Ask God to help you move toward him in these times of weeping.
Donât walk alone. We need a godly community walking with us. Join a local or virtual Bible study group.
Remember this is a season. You can sow seeds right now in your tears, trusting that there is a joyful harvest coming.
Stuff we think youâll like:
Cook the delicious grilled salmon with lemon sauce recipe Kelly mentioned in this episode! Itâs included in the first week of her Ruth Bible study. Or, check out her full cookbook, A Place at the Table.
Cultivate is brought to you in part by Kelly's Ruth Bible Study. Find out more by visiting this link.
Cultivate is brought to you in part by the Dwell Bible App. Save 30% at dwellapp.io/Cultivate.
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Weâre looking at a life of goodness in todayâs Cultivate podcast. If you already feel disqualified or like youâve totally missed that âgoodâ mark youâre exactly who I hope will join me. Scripture is really interesting on the topic of goodness because in Romans Paul quotes the Old Testament by saying that no one is good, not even one. And yet heâs also the one who teaches us that weâre to display the fruit of goodness and that weâre created for good works. So which is it?
In todayâs episode weâre going to find out that itâs both. While weâre not saved by our good works, weâre definitely saved for good works. And the very grace that saves us is the same grace that fuels a life of goodness that doesnât always come naturally to us. You were created for good works, and not only that, God prepared certain good works for you to do! Iâm so excited about this episode as we dive into Ephesians 5:8-9, Ephesians 2:1-5, and Ephesians 2:8-10. My prayer is that youâll find freedom from guilt and discouragement, and lean into Godâs grace for the all the good He has in store for you.
If youâd like to go deeper into Bible study, check out Kellyâs brand new study releasing Nov 1, 2022 on the book of Ruth called Ruth: Loss, Love & Legacy.
Cultivate is brought to you in part by the Dwell Bible App. Save 30% at dwellapp.io/Cultivate.
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The Cultivate Podcast is back! Iâm so excited to be in my living room walking through 2 Timothy 3:16-17 with you. In this fresh episode, weâll look at 4 ways Godâs Word uniquely impacts our lives. One of my deepest hopes is to help you see how Scripture connects to the everyday challenges we face and the internal struggles we deal with. Godâs Word has renewed my life, given me hope, and redirected me when I needed itâand He longs to do the same for you!
In this episode, weâll get to make these practical and hope-filled connections as we reflect on the encouragement that the Apostle Paul gave his younger friend Timothy. No matter where you are in your faith journey, todayâs episode about the power of Scripture will be an inspiring listen.
To go deeper, you can order Kellyâs "Encountering God" bible study.
Cultivate is brought to you in part by the Dwell Bible App. Save 30% at dwellapp.io/Cultivate.
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Today weâre looking at prayer in Jesusâ Sermon on the Mount. So often we wonder if prayer works, if God really cares, or why even pray if God already knows what we need? Sometimes we even question whether the God we pray to is good.
Iâm excited for this episode because Jesusâ teaching addresses so many of our questions. And where our questions remain unanswered He goes out of His way to reveal the good heart of God toward us. Iâm looking forward to wrapping up our short 4-part series out of Jesusâ Sermon on the Mount with you. I hope it will encourage you in your prayer life.
Looking for a new ONLINE Bible Study? Sign up at Lifeway.com for the Encountering God Online Bible study. Registration is open from Jan 13 through March 1!
To order the Encountering God Bible study, visit Lifeway.com
For the full show notes visit kellyminter.com/podcast. -
Perhaps more than ever weâre living in a day of worry and anxiety. But this isnât new. Over 2,000 years ago Jesus stood on the edge of the Sea of Galilee and addressed our tendency to let anxiety overtake us. Weâre continuing to move through Jesusâ Sermon on the Mount where weâll find real help for our anxious souls.
A sneak peek at whatâs in store? When we treasure the wrong things our hearts become anxious. But when our hearts value eternal thingsâour relationship with God and othersâour treasures are secure. One of my favorite parts of Jesusâ sermon is when He tells us to look at the birds and flowers to see how He cares for them. How much more He cares for us! Weâre unpacking all of this and more. I hope youâll join me for some soul rest in this episode.
Looking for a new ONLINE Bible Study? Sign up here for the Encountering God Online Bible study, starting January 13, 2022. Registration is open through March 1!
Order the Encountering God Bible study.
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Weâre diving into the images of salt and light that Jesus uses in this section of the Sermon on the Mount. Both of these are elements we all use every day, but by looking at the historical and contextual implications of these metaphors, we can get a better idea of what Jesus meant when He called us to be these agents of impact.
Salt is a preservative that slows down decay. Salt is on the defense while the light is on the offense, dispelling darkness from areas wherever itâs present. How does this apply to us? Why does Jesus call us to live like this? Join me as we talk about these metaphors and other Scriptures that remain timeless and applicable today!
Donât forget to sign up here for the Encountering God Online Bible study, starting January 13, 2022 at lifeway.com
Order the Encountering God Bible study.
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As we begin a new series in the New Year, Iâm excited to focus on Jesusâs Sermon on the Mount in this new four-part series. Weâre starting with the Beatitudes where Jesus gives descriptions of what it looks like to flourish and thrive in this life because of the arrival of His kingdom. He gives us an entirely new way to live! And itâs inherently countercultural to what our world defines as blessing.
The message of the Beatitudes is not reserved for those who have every materialistic luxury. In fact, Jesus initially taught this message to a group of people who were historically oppressed and marginalized. And the Beatitudes are not a to-do list for Christians, but instead a definition of Christ followers and how they walk in the newness of Christâs kingdom. Itâs a declarationâwhen you find yourself in these conditions and youâre a follower of Christ, you are blessed.
As we go into a new year, remember that our God is a promise keeper and He is not forgetful of us or His promises. While this season may carry both joy and difficulty, we have good news! God kept His promise in sending a Savior into the world, Immanuel, God with us.
Donât forget to sign up here for the Encountering God Online Bible study, starting January 13, 2022 at Lifeway.com
Order the Encountering God Bible study
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During the Christmas season itâs easy to get lost in the holiday swirl and lose sight of the promises that God has kept through Jesus. Thatâs why in this episode weâre looking at Zechariahâs song of praise. His words will give us hope and perspective no matter what weâre going through. As Zechariah recounts the history of Israel and the dawning redemption, our spirits will be lifted.
As we go into a new year, remember that our God is a promise keeper and He is not forgetful of us or His promises. While this season may carry both joy and difficulty, we have good news! God kept His promise in sending a Savior into the world, Immanuel, God with us.
Donât forget to sign up here for the Encountering God Online Bible study, starting January 13, 2022.
To order the Encountering God Bible study, click here.
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Today, weâre unwrapping the story of Anna, the prophetess in Lukeâs Gospel. She has a special place in Godâs story of redemption, and she serves as a representative for all of us in seasons of waiting and longing. Widowed for 84 years, a woman of modest means, and from an exiled people group, we see Godâs favor and grace shine through her life.
Perhaps you feel disqualified from Godâs grace. Or youâre struggling to keep sight of Jesus in a season of unmet longing. Annaâs story will remind you that Godâs redemption is on offer for everyone. I hope her story finds and refreshes your soul today amid the craziness of this and every season. If youâre longing and waiting in the midst of hardship, allow Anna to be a reminder of what to do when you wait. And more importantly, who to trust in the waiting.
Donât forget to sign up here for the Encountering God Online Bible study, starting January 13, 2022.
Order the Encountering God Bible study.
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Our expectations of Christmas can feel like they come from a Hallmark movie, which doesnât do us a lot of favors (as much as we love them). The cultural ideal that weâll be fulfilled and content at Christmas, that everything will fall into place, acts as a magnifying glass to the unmet expectations that we hold all year round.
Through the lives of Elizabeth and Mary, we get a bit of a cultural reset when it comes to our Christmas ideals. What's so helpful about Mary and Elizabethâs story is the realistic Christmas it portraysâone full of Godâs promises being fulfilled in the midst of difficult seasons. By returning to this Scripture, we can sift through the romantic version of a cultural Christmas and see something truthful. A Christmas that celebrates Godâs promises coming to fruition in the midst of a dark and waiting world in the person of Jesus.
Donât forget to sign up here for the Encountering God Online Bible study, starting January 13, 2022.
Order the Encountering God Bible study
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I donât know about you, but Iâm fully invested in the Christmas season. Today, weâre diving into a series of Christmas episodes and to kick it off, weâre starting in the book of Matthew. Matthew spends most of the first chapter outlining the genealogy of Jesus. While a genealogy may not seem like the most show stopping opener, the cultural and historical implications of this chapter are deeply impactful.
The genealogy of Jesus is countercultural. It is rare to find women listed in genealogies and the women highlighted here are not classified by their squeaky clean lives or heritages. The effects of shame, prejudice, disobedience, loneliness all permeate the lives of the women in Jesusâ line. As we look at these women, we canât help but see reflections of our own hearts and stories. And in that reflection I pray we will see the all-encompassing salvation gift given to us through the life and death of Jesus.
Donât forget to sign up here for the Encountering God Online Bible study, starting January 13, 2022.
Order the Encountering God Bible study
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