First Fifteen

The Easter story is too big to be limited to one day a year.  There are many things in it that we can learn, so today's episode is like Easter, part 2. We hear the rest of the angel's message and Jesus himself.  We also learn of a conspiracy launched to counter what really happened at the tomb.

If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place.

Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a personal way.  This podcast will show you how and teach you in an easy to follow process.

In fifteen minutes (or less) you will listen to God's word for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day.  What a perfect way to get started!

The featured scripture in this episode is Matt 28:7-15.  The women at the tomb hear the rest of the angel's message as he reassures them and also instructs them to share the good news of Jesus' rising with the other disciples.  After leaving the tomb Jesus meets them and they worship him.  Jesus reinforces what the angel has said and promises that the disciples will see him too. The soldiers guarding the tomb are paid a bribe to say Jesus' disciples stole his body at night, and the lie gets repeated widely among the Jews.

Go ahead and get started listening and follow/subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word.  You can also watch this as a video podcast on Youtube at the Word of Prayer channel

Get a copy of  Book 4:  Journey with Jesus: Praying Your Way through Matthew's Gospel - Book 4 on Amazon (or ebook)

Download the helpsheet that details and demonstrates the four step process we use on First Fifteen.

Additional resources at the Word of Prayer website https://word-of-prayer.com   

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The ground shakes again as it did on the day Jesus died, but the reason for it is completely different!  Additionally, an angel from God delivers an astonishing message today.

If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place.

Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a personal way.  This podcast will show you how and teach you in an easy to follow process.

In fifteen minutes (or less) you will listen to God's word for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day.  What a perfect way to get started!

The featured scripture in this episode is Matt 28:1-6.  On the first day of the week the women go to the tomb, but what they find there is a complete surprise.  There is an earthquake, an angel from the Lord comes and rolls the stone away from the tomb and sits on it.  He scares the daylights out of the soldiers and reassures the women not to be afraid.  He has some incredible news about Jesus they need to hear.   He invites them to come and see what he's talking about.

Go ahead and get started listening and follow/subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word.  You can also watch this as a video podcast on Youtube at the Word of Prayer channel

Get a copy of  Book 4:  Journey with Jesus: Praying Your Way through Matthew's Gospel - Book 4 on Amazon (or ebook)

Download the helpsheet that details and demonstrates the four step process we use on First Fifteen.

Additional resources at the Word of Prayer website https://word-of-prayer.com   

Support the show

Aftermath.  Fallout.  Cleanup.   We have a number of words for what comes after a life-changing, world-changing event.  In our journey with Jesus, that’s where we are.  Jesus was condemned. He has died. Jerusalem is quiet on the Sabbath as everyone rests from any work.  We need a breather to catch our breath, to think about what has happened. 
   
If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place.

Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a personal way.  This podcast will show you how and teach you in an easy to follow process.

In fifteen minutes (or less) you will listen to God's word for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day.  What a perfect way to get started!

The featured scripture in this episode is Matt 27:55-66.  After Jesus' death two groups of people approach Pilate concerned about Jesus' body.  One is Joseph of Arimathea and the women who followed Jesus.  They want to ensure his body is treated decently and given a proper burial in Joseph's own tomb in the rock.  The other group is the Jewish authorities who want to ensure that Jesus' body stays in the tomb so it is sealed and a squad of soldiers is dispatched to guard the tomb.

Go ahead and get started listening and follow/subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word.  You can also watch this as a video podcast on Youtube at the Word of Prayer channel

Get a copy of  Book 4:  Journey with Jesus: Praying Your Way through Matthew's Gospel - Book 4 on Amazon (or ebook)

Download the helpsheet that details and demonstrates the four step process we use on First Fifteen.

Additional resources at the Word of Prayer website https://word-of-prayer.com   

Support the show

The journey stops--it feels like we have fallen off a cliff.  Everything has changed, and yet exactly how that change would look isn’t yet clear.  We've crossed a threshold.  Things are never going to be the same again.
   
If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place.

Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a personal way.  This podcast will show you how and teach you in an easy to follow process.

In fifteen minutes (or less) you will listen to God's word for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day.  What a perfect way to get started!

The featured scripture in this episode is Matt 27:50-54.  Jesus breathes his last breath and dies on the cross.  The immediate reaction is felt as a shockwave: the earth shakes, the temple curtain is torn, the dead are raised, and the centurion confesses "This was the Son of God!"  Something world-changing has just taken place, and the world can't even put words to it, except to acknowledge that the God's own Son has just died.

Go ahead and get started listening and follow/subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word.  You can also watch this as a video podcast on Youtube at the Word of Prayer channel

Get a copy of  Book 4:  Journey with Jesus: Praying Your Way through Matthew's Gospel - Book 4 on Amazon (or ebook)

Download the helpsheet that details and demonstrates the four step process we use on First Fifteen.

Additional resources at the Word of Prayer website https://word-of-prayer.com

Support the show

We’re in the last gasp and things have gotten desperate.  The physical, emotional and spiritual suffering has taken its toll and is breaking down a man hanging on a cross. The real contradiction we will see today goes far beyond the physical pain and suffering, though. 
   
If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place.

Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a personal way.  This podcast will show you how and teach you in an easy to follow process.

In fifteen minutes (or less) you will listen to God's word for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day.  What a perfect way to get started!

The featured scripture in this episode is Matt 27:45-49.  Jesus is hanging on the cross and at noon darkness descends on the land for three hours.  Jesus feels abandoned, forsaken.  He calls on God, but even then he is mocked.  This is the time when darkness has the upper hand.  What a contradiction?!

Go ahead and get started listening and follow/subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word.  You can also watch this as a video podcast on Youtube at the Word of Prayer channel

Get a copy of  Book 4:  Journey with Jesus: Praying Your Way through Matthew's Gospel - Book 4 on Amazon (or ebook)

Download the helpsheet that details and demonstrates the four step process we use on First Fifteen.

Additional resources at the Word of Prayer website https://word-of-prayer.com

Support the show

We haven’t reached the peak yet.  It means we haven’t seen the worst of it.  What we're going to hear today is going to be tough and grim.  But you can make it through.  God has been here before.  He has something he really wants to speak to you if you're listening.
         
If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place.

Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a personal way.  This podcast will show you how and teach you in an easy to follow process.

In fifteen minutes (or less) you will listen to God's word for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day.  What a perfect way to get started!

The featured scripture in this episode is Matt 27:32-44.  Jesus is marched out of Jerusalem to Golgotha where he is crucified.  Simon of Cyrene is pressed into service carrying Jesus' cross.  After being stripped of his clothes and nailed to the cross, he is subjected to the humiliation and curses of by-passers, the religious leaders and even the two criminals crucified on either side of him.  The curses are words formed into weapons and demonstrate the sin and ignorance and pride of humanity on display.     

Go ahead and get started listening and follow/subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word.  You can also watch this as a video podcast on Youtube at the Word of Prayer channel

Get a copy of  Book 4:  Journey with Jesus: Praying Your Way through Matthew's Gospel - Book 4 on Amazon (or ebook)

Download the helpsheet that details and demonstrates the four step process we use on First Fifteen.

Additional resources at the Word of Prayer website https://word-of-prayer.com

Support the show

What's the crux of the matter?  Crux is Latin for "cross", and Jesus passes a crossroads, a "point of no return" in today's story.                     
 
If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place.

Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a personal way.  This podcast will show you how and teach you in an easy to follow process.

In fifteen minutes (or less) you will listen to God's word for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day.  What a perfect way to get started!

The featured scripture in this episode is Matt 27:20-31.  Jesus is rejected by the crowd as Pilate tries to offer him for pardon, so to avoid a riot Pilate binds Jesus over to be crucified.  He is whipped and then the Roman soldier's dress him in mock royal robes and pretend to worship him before he is marched through the streets of Jerusalem.   

Go ahead and get started listening and follow/subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word.  You can also watch this as a video podcast on Youtube at the Word of Prayer channel

Get a copy of  Book 4:  Journey with Jesus: Praying Your Way through Matthew's Gospel - Book 4 on Amazon (or ebook)

Download the helpsheet that details and demonstrates the four step process we use on First Fifteen.

Additional resources at the Word of Prayer website https://word-of-prayer.com

Support the show

Who's in charge around here?  Look around today and you might wonder who’s in charge.  Who makes the rules…and enforces them?  Are they legitimate?  We’re going to listen to a part of Matthew’s gospel that speaks to these questions.                   
 
If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place.

Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a personal way.  This podcast will show you how and teach you in an easy to follow process.

In fifteen minutes (or less) you will listen to God's word for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day.  What a perfect way to get started!

The featured scripture in this episode is Matt 27:11-19.  Jesus was arrested, tried and condemned by the Jewish leaders.  They take him to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, to carry out the death sentence.  Pilate interviews Jesus and is amazed at how composed he is and how he refuses to beg for mercy like a common criminal.  We get to see a lot of people holding the office of ruler, but only one really acts like one.  Since the beginning of this gospel, Matthew has emphasized Jesus’ royal background and behavior, though he doesn’t seem like the typical ruler sitting on a seat of power.  We see a different kind of power and a deeper sense of purpose than in anyone else, and that is key to his rule. 

Go ahead and get started listening and follow/subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word.  You can also watch this as a video podcast on Youtube at the Word of Prayer channel

Get a copy of  Book 4:  Journey with Jesus: Praying Your Way through Matthew's Gospel - Book 4 on Amazon (or ebook)

Download the helpsheet that details and demonstrates the four step process we use on First Fifteen.

Additional resources at the Word of Prayer website https://word-of-prayer.com

Support the show

What's your biggest regret?  It’s a heavy question, especially in difficult times.  But the Bible was written especially for difficult times.  We’re going to see what regret might drive a person to do, and I want to show you another way.               
 
If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place.

Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a personal way.  This podcast will show you how and teach you in an easy to follow process.

In fifteen minutes (or less) you will listen to God's word for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day.  What a perfect way to get started!

The featured scripture in this episode is Matt 27:1-10.  Jesus was arrested, tried and condemned.  He was betrayed and even denied by his closest followers.  Most of his followers fled.   Now Judas realizes the consequences of his rash actions and he has regrets.  The chief priests and elders are unconcerned, and when he returns the blood money they use it to buy a field to bury foreigners in.  Judas is overwhelmed by his sin and regret.  

Go ahead and get started listening and follow/subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word.  You can also watch this as a video podcast on Youtube at the Word of Prayer channel

Get a copy of  Book 4:  Journey with Jesus: Praying Your Way through Matthew's Gospel - Book 4 on Amazon (or ebook)

Download the helpsheet that details and demonstrates the four step process we use on First Fifteen.

Additional resources at the Word of Prayer website https://word-of-prayer.com

Support the show

We’re living in times of uncertainty.  This isn’t completely unprecedented in history, but it’s unprecedented for those of us living now.  Our system has been shocked.  Shut down.  Enforced distancing. What do we do?  How to navigate this?

As we are taking a pause from our journey with Jesus through Matthew's gospel, it's important to pull closer to God.  Pray and breathe and get a little perspective as you can.  

We're in the days of sacrifice, of doing without.  In the historical Christian tradition, the days of Lent precede Easter and in this time of reflection it has been customary to give up something voluntarily.  Some have given up a lot more recently--involuntarily.  It's a shock.

Acknowledge that and breathe.  Also know that there is a recovery, a rising again after the shock.  God is at work even when there's darkness at noon on Calvary and doom hangs in the air.  Keep praying.  Keep listening.  We'll get through this.
   

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