Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weakling say, “I am strong!” Joel 3:10 (NIV)

We often sing the line: "Let the weak say I am strong." Unfortunately, this is one of those occasions where we take the bible out of context. Check out today's episode, where we explore the correct context of this bible verse from Joel 3.

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"For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14

The story of Esther is shrouded in mystery. It is one of perhaps two books in the bible not to mention God at all. Check out this week's episode, as we explore some of the background to understanding Esther's place within the great Persian Empire.

To hear the accompanying sermon, please visit our YouTube Channel via:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjW12RLnJV4

On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. Acts 16:13-14 (NIV)

Listening to God is a critical element of mature discipleship. Lydia was a woman of wonderful wisdom, who positioned herself to hear from God. 

Check out this week's episode to learn more about the context of Acts 16 and how we can be attentive to God's voice.

To hear the corresponding sermon, please visit our YouTube channel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTdTmbRE3Os&t=1937s

Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment. Matthew 15:28 (NIV)

Explore some of the details from the famous interaction Jesus had with a Greek, Syro-Phoenician woman, who demonstrated great faith, found in Matthew 15 & Mark 7.

To view the corresponding sermon, please visit our YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9ahFd6hOiQ&t=2101s

But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.” When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her. Ruth 1:16-18

When we speak of loyalty, there's a great model from Scripture in Ruth.  Check out this week's message as we explore the great blessings of loyalty which came to Ruth and how God is loyal to us.

To listen to the accompanying sermon, please visit:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-k2OBvpfgTo&t=2287s

“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”

“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” Luke 19:38

The concept of a Triumphal Entry is foreign to our thinking. Yet this event kicked off the final week of Jesus' life. Check out this week's episode to understand the historical background to the famous incident of Jesus coming to Jerusalem as King.

To hear the corresponding Sunday message, please visit:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l51QLzNHNQI&t=3869s

 Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honour except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.” He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. He was amazed at their lack of faith. Mark 6:4-6 (NIV)

We can easily read this passage and get confused as to why Jesus couldn't do many miracles. If Jesus is God, shouldn't he have the power to heal in all circumstances? 

Check out this week's episode as we explore some of the culture of the ancient world and the surrounding context, to answer this question.

 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.  Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:42-47 (NIV)

In this week's episode, we explore some of the practical lessons we can learn from the early church!

…having cancelled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. Colossians 2:14-15 (NIV)

We hear the Good Friday message so often that it can become something we take for granted. In this extended interview, we explore some of the different ways of understanding the crucifixion of Jesus and what it means for us on a personal and spiritual level.

And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. Luke 18:1-8 (NIV)

Check out this week's episode, as we explore the biblical theme of justice from The Parable of the Persistent Widow, also known as The Parable of the Unjust Judge.

To view the accompanying sermon, please visit our YouTube channel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLK3wcUKwY0&t=2944s