Be With Me: 7 Minutes of Biblical Wonder

Matthew gives us the family history at the arrival of Jesus.  It is a record of the legal claim that family members have to the bounty of the riches that Jesus brings.  This is a family that Jesus attaches himself to, and by extension, we are attached to.  With it come rights, and benefits, and inheritances, and power, and offices.  Ultimately, you want to be a part of this.  It is like the reading of a will of a person of great wealth.  You WANT to be a part of this.

So then,  what kind of people does Jesus attach Himself to?  Well, that part isn't so hot.  You see, it is full of people.  Men and women who do the good and the bad that humans do.  There are prostitutes, murderers, adulterers, attempted murderers, family abandoners, and some are described as just plain EVIL.  And yet, Jesus choses this family.  "These are my people.  These are mine.  I have chosen them."  And the greatest thing is that He is faithful over centuries to a continuous series of flawed people.  You would never make this up.  The story is just too ridiculous.  

So of this family history, we are saved FROM them, or at least their sin.  But Matthew goes to great lengths to say that we are saved THROUGH them, in a sense.  So if you are the wild sheep of your family tree, you are welcome here. 2000 years of family history in 7 minutes.

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God comes to us in a certain way.  

Why? Because we need it. Absent Him, what answer do we have for sin?

How? Flesh had to do it. Our flesh couldn't do it and fulfill all the righteous requirements.  Moses reminded us of that. He comes in the flesh. This fulfills prophesy and fixes problems.

Where?  He pitches His tent in my backyard.  He comes close.  He dwells among me and us.  He moves into the neighborhood and makes His home right here.

Who? Jesus. The Word. The one that is full of GRACE, and grace for grace, and grace on top of grace.  

What is grace?  If Justice is getting exactly what we deserve (nobody wants that for themselves). And if mercy is getting LESS that we deserve (now you have my attention). Then grace is getting MORE than we deserve (sign me up for that).  

This is Jesus who is called God here yet again.  He's in this intimacy with God, near to His heart, in the bosom of the Father.  These are grand trinity expressions.

When?  He comes 2000 years ago for sure.  But also, let's watch for Him today. Write at [email protected]

If I knew this day was going to be so important, I would have paid more attention! Does anybody wake up and know that later on today, I am going to yield my heart, believe in all that I know about God, trust Him that He's true, and receive all that He did to remedy a great big sin problem? does anyone's list look like:

• Walk the dog
• go grocery shopping
• pay credit card bill
• practice piano
• become a Christian

I got saved by surprise.  "On accident", as children are prone to say. I was gobsmacked by grace; or'whelmed by goodness; surprised by access.

We will quote Knute Larson's God-knowing grandmother as I remember my part and most importantly GOD'S PART in my salvation.  I probably should call it HIS salvation OF me. 

 I am recalling a day for you when the impossible happened.  I am recalling the actual VERSE that made sense for me for the first time.  This verse, and this day, changed EVERYTHING for me.  Please listen and share with everybody in your contact list. write me at [email protected] and I will put you on the list

After the introduction of Jesus as eternal, creative, creator, life-giver, light-giver and darkness fighter, we today hear a few words about mankind.

I suppose some is good.  Hey, He uses us as messengers primarily, rather than angels or something.

But mostly, we hear about offense.  We hear about us not receiving Him.  We hear about the "yet..." in the passage.  How can this be?!  I was offended, even incredulous.

How can the created, say to the Creator, "You didn't do that.  You didn't create me. I don't owe you anything."
How can the life-given say to the life-giver, "Nope, no thanks, I am not beholden to You.  I won't receive You"

Join me with a 7 minute listen that sets up my personal "life-verse".  You will want to listen and share please.  Write at [email protected]

Podcaster + Revelation of God Himself = Big dose of HUMBLE PIE.

John does not start his gospel in a small way.  There is creation, creator, sustainer, Word-naming, Jesus=God, originator of stuff, originator of life and epic battle-doer of dark and light.

God is making Himself manifest here.  In a big way.  In a BIG way.  We will start the sipping of spiritual experiences and spiritual truth and spiritual revelation soon.  For now, John pours buckets of spiritual stuff over our heads.  Bucket followed by bucket of overwhelming, drenching truth.  

Jesus shows up large in John's gospel.  Let's not forget that it is the inspired gospel of GOD.  Every word in there the LORD wants in there.  Here we find the Lord stepping into:

• the void
• wordlessness
• stufflessness
• lifelessness and
• lightlessness.

Why, dearest God?  Why?  Maybe to remind us that the story is epically big.  It started long ago and far away.  Maybe to remind us that the story is epically small:  in some sense, He did this all for you and your belief; me and my belief.  I am humbled.  Listen and see if you are too.
www.bewithme.us or [email protected]

Welcome to Be With Me: 7 Minutes of Biblical Wonder.  If you are new to the podcast, you are starting in the best place.  We are on a sequential walk through Jesus' life as detailed in the gospels.  The real story starts here.  Season 4 is actually the start of the story.  The order is actually season 4 then 1,2,3.  So, you are in exactly the right place.  What kind of a knucklehead would start an epic in the middle?  Me and George Lucas. ;-)

Why a chronological walk?  Because it makes sense to our minds.  I think it is easier, less confusing, and is a story that builds day by day.  If there is a better way to read the Bible, I don't know what it is. 

After the amazing events of Jesus' life, careful accounts were written.  Luke is an excellent writer.  He tells us that this is a narrative, sourced by eyewitnesses and himself, following the life of Jesus closely, put together in an orderly account. 

Join me as we take a little segment of scripture, usually no bigger than we can cover with our hand and wonder about it.  You have started in the right place.  Luke tells us today that we can do more than just wonder, he says we can have CERTAINTY.  Subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify or deezer.  Then listen.  Then consider.  Then be certain.

Pastor Knute Larson will help us understand the third biggest question of all-time:  Why is there pain? 

How should we handle our pain?  How should we handle other’s pain?  When will all of this be over?  Do Christians have problems and suffering?  

We will learn how Pastors handle that painful phone call.  Thank you Lord, for giving us Pastors.

Mike Singletary will make a verbal appearance from the gridiron to help frame our discourse.

If you have some pain, you are welcome to this podcast.  If you have a lot of pain, you then are MORE than welcome here. If you are crushed in pain, then this is exactly for you.  

Thanks for listening these 7 minutes. Bewithme.us is our website.  Please subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Deezer, Google Podcasts, or Spotify.

Pastor Knute Larson joins Be With Me for 7 minutes as he explains the importance of 59 seconds.  He is known for the MINUTE-SPOT, a 59 second TV segment that went city-wide and drew in the curious.  He did hundreds of them. Nobody ever did it better.

 Historically, they actually started on the radio in 1966 in Ashland, Ohio.  He’ll tell us how it all got started and why those first few seconds are so important.

This ministry served as an early “side-door” to the church.  The implications of an attractive, media presence certainly applies to our current culture.

He’ll emphasize kindness, normalcy, and being non-churchy.  Jesus probably was the best example of this.  Both are trying to get their audience thinking.

In a sense, we all are doing minute-spots every day.  That is, we have a critical moment to be a winsome witness for Jesus.  Let’s do better with our first 59 seconds.  

Join me in thanking Knute Larson who is the best 59 second pastor in America.  

Bewithme.us is our website.  Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Deezer, Google Podcasts, or Spotify.

Knute Larson explains the COMBINATION LIFE

Be With Me joins Pastor Knute Larson on the beach of Lake Michigan to hear his thoughts on the COMBINATION LIFE. That is, what are the responsibilities or the “job-description” of a believer.  On the other hand, what are the responsibilities or the “job-description” of God Himself?  Who does what in the process of sanctification?  Perhaps you have wondered this.  Knute will help you get started.

We will hear from Knute’s grandmother as she explains sovereignty with a door that on the outside says, “Whosoever will, may come” and then on the inside says, “Chosen before the foundations of the earth.” 

How do I know that the Spirit is working within? How do outsiders know the Spirit is active in the life of a believer?  

He will be both practical and spiritual.  He will encourage all of us right from his beach chair.  

Bewithme.us is our website.  Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Deezer, Google Podcasts, or Spotify.

This morning we find Pastor Knute Larson on the shores of Lake Michigan.  We will hear about what work continues to drive him today.  He is involved in a task that carries forward his passion for mentoring the next generation of young leaders. 

He is what he likes to call a “Coach of Pastors.” If you are a young-at-heart pastor, I think you’d be crazy not to find him at https://pastorknutelarson.com/about and get the wisdom that comes from more than 50 years of experience in the trenches with God’s flock.  He specializes in preaching, leadership and conflict issues. But really in one word, he encourages.  He encourages with experience.

Knute is a whiz at helping churches work through the typical difficulties that stretch the hearts of their pastors. He’ll also address the particular challenge that COVID has been to the unity of the church.  

Wow, don’t we all desire about 7 minutes of Pastor Knute’s encouragement?  Hit play and you’ll see for yourself.

Bewithme.us is our website.  Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Deezer, Google Podcasts, or Spotify.