Revenge will never bring about good. Revenge will never accomplish good. Revenge is not God's way of dealing with the world that has rejected him. God calls us to join him in a different way. God calls us to overcome evil with good. At the heart of the gospel is the act of blessing an enemy. That is the essence of the gospel. The good news of Jesus Christ is that God blesses his enemies. Here in Romans 12, Paul calls on us to follow the example of God in the way we deal with those who hurt us. Paul calls on us to bless our enemies. Produced on June 9, 2020

For a video version of this short pod, go to: https://youtu.be/rdvqZMFXAxE

For more content from Pastor Gary:

Blog:  gachorpenning.com

YouTube Channel:  Pastor Gary's Video Notebook

Facebook: like “Gary Chorpenning’s Notebooks”

Instagram:  search for and follow “Pastor Gary's Notebooks”

In a fallen world, fallen human beings hurt one another. In Romans 12:19, Paul declares that God cares very much about that. God is incensed by the hurts that human beings give to one another. He acts to set it right. That fact about God's reaction to our hurting one another, especially to the hurts that the powerful do to the vulnerable, bears a message both for those who hurt others and for those who are hurt by others. If you do hurt to someone, be assured that it is God you will have to deal with not your weak victim. If you are hurt by someone, be assured that God will deal with it. Revenge is an act of unbelief. Instead, trust God. He will bring justice. Produced on June 4, 2020

For a video version of this short pod, go to:  https://youtu.be/bJsUfDrFJZU

For more content from Pastor Gary:

Blog:  gachorpenning.com

YouTube Channel:  Pastor Gary's Video Notebook

Facebook: like “Gary Chorpenning’s Notebooks”

Instagram:  search for and follow “Pastor Gary's Notebooks”

This brief Easter sermon is preached from Luke 24:36-49.  In it, Pastor Gary explores the meaning of the physical resurrection of Jesus for our eternal life and for our mission in the world.

For a video version of this sermon, go to:  https://youtu.be/iC43NTfXWS4

For more content from Pastor Gary:

Blog:  gachorpenning.com

YouTube Channel:  Pastor Gary's Video Notebook

Facebook: like “Gary Chorpenning’s Notebooks”

Instagram:  search for and follow “Pastor Gary's Notebooks”

A Christ-transformed life is a life that is defined by a particular way of relating to others, especially those who differ from us or who are openly hostile toward us. One aspect of the Christ-transformed character is its peaceableness toward everyone. This characteristic is crucially important to the mission of the gospel, because the nature of our gospel calling it to win others to willingly and joyfully embrace Christ. We cannot persuade people to embrace Christ through hostility and quarrelsomeness. We cannot win people to Christ through coercion or aggression. We can only do that through a peaceable approach. Yes, we are called to pursue truth and righteousness, but we called to pursue it peaceably and with love. Produced on May 28, 2020

For a video version of this shortpod, go to:  https://youtu.be/FOQNUgXLi5M

For more content from Pastor Gary:

Blog:  gachorpenning.com

YouTube Channel:  Pastor Gary's Video Notebook

Facebook: like “Gary Chorpenning’s Notebooks”

Instagram:  search for and follow “Pastor Gary's Notebooks”

A narrative reflection on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ

For a video version of this podcast, go to:  https://youtu.be/QjDjmSGZ2vE

For the written script of this podcast, go to:  Bible Note #47: Mary Magdalene--A Holy Week Meditation

For more content from Pastor Gary:

Blog:  gachorpenning.com

YouTube Channel:  Pastor Gary's Video Notebook

Facebook: like “Gary Chorpenning’s Notebooks”

Instagram:  search for and follow “Pastor Gary's Notebooks”

A narrative reflection on the crucifixion of Jesus

For a video version of this episode, go to:  https://youtu.be/OhPwb0hWSag

For a written script of this episode, go to: Bible Note #46:  Simon of Cyrene at the Cross--A Lenten Meditation

For more content from Pastor Gary:

Blog:  gachorpenning.com

YouTube Channel:  Pastor Gary's Video Notebook

Facebook: like “Gary Chorpenning’s Notebooks”

Instagram:  search for and follow “Pastor Gary's Notebooks”

A narrative reflection on the crucifixion of Jesus

For a video version of this episode, go to:  https://youtu.be/qBwRBBslAeQ

For the written script of this episode,go to: Bible Note #45: Nicodemus & Joseph of Arimathea at the Cross--a Lenten Meditation

For more content from Pastor Gary:

Blog:  gachorpenning.com

YouTube Channel:  Pastor Gary's Video Notebook

Facebook: like “Gary Chorpenning’s Notebooks”

Instagram:  search for and follow “Pastor Gary's Notebooks”

A narrative reflection on the crucifixion of Jesus

For a video version of this meditation, go to: https://youtu.be/XBzOwZ4DWkI

For the written script, go to: Bible Note #45: The Centurion at the Cross (gachorpenning.com)

For more content from Pastor Gary:

Blog:  gachorpenning.com

YouTube Channel:  Pastor Gary's Video Notebook

Facebook: like “Gary Chorpenning’s Notebooks”

Instagram:  search for and follow “Pastor Gary's Notebooks”

This episode is part of a series of Lenten meditations based on the people and events surrounding the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.  This episode is a narrative reflection on Peter's denial of Christ.

For a video version of this episode, go to:  https://youtu.be/xnBUj-KCfyo

For the script of this episode, go to:  Bible Note #43: Peter's Denial/Following Jesus--A Lenten Meditation

For more content from Pastor Gary:

Blog:  gachorpenning.com

YouTube Channel:  Pastor Gary's Video Notebook

Facebook: like “Gary Chorpenning’s Notebooks”

Instagram:  search for and follow “Pastor Gary's Notebooks”

We interact with lots and lots of people in our lives. We have to decide how we will treat those folks. All too often how we choose to treat others is based on how they treat us. If people treat us well, we choose to treat them well. If people choose to treat us badly, we treat them badly in return. When we do that, we are conforming our lives to the ways of this world. God calls us to something quite different. He calls us to treat others the way he treats us--with grace, mercy, forbearance, and forgiveness. When we do, we demonstrate to the world what our God is like. Produced on May 26, 2020

For a video version of this short pod, go to:  https://youtu.be/9jpu2zTZTA4

For more content from Pastor Gary:

Blog:  gachorpenning.com

YouTube Channel:  Pastor Gary's Video Notebook

Facebook: like “Gary Chorpenning’s Notebooks”

Instagram:  search for and follow “Pastor Gary's Notebooks”