Jesus instructed John to “write the things which you have seen, the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.” In today’s section of Scripture, John sees Jesus manifested in several different ways—he sees Christ in glory. The glory of Christ is a main theme in the Book of Revelation, and it is the focus of today’s teaching. In Revelation 1:9-20, we are given a picture of “The Glorified Christ.” Together, let’s observe the several manifestations of that glory and bow before Him in worship. “When all else fails, read the instructions.” This well-known saying reveals […]

Take a moment to think about your possessions. What is the most enduring tangible thing you own? How long will it last? In 2 Peter 3:10, we’re told, “both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.” In contrast, the Psalmist stated, “Forever, O Lord, your word is settled in heaven.” That is the nature of God’s Word. As Christ-followers, we can have absolute confidence that we truly have “A Word from God.” That is the title of my teaching on Revelation 1:4-8. Transcript John is writing a letter to seven churches in Asia Minor. […]

Thinking about the book of Revelation, God’s last book, reminds us that last words are often cherished words. As Believers, we revere Jesus’ final words after His resurrection but before He ascended to heaven. In the book of Revelation, we find the final words of Jesus, included in the canon of Holy Scripture. They are words given to us after His earthly ministry was completed and He had ascended to His Father. In Revelation, He has a final message for us. The opening verses are a fitting introduction to “God’s Last Book.” Revelation 1:1-3 offers us several insights into the […]

With this episode of The Voice of Hope, we’re beginning a new series of study from the last book of the Bible, the Revelation of Jesus Christ. Some people are intrigued by the Book of Revelation; some are scared by it. Others, because they’re not sure what to do with it, ignore the book completely. In this episode, J Mark introduces Revelation, defines key terms, and discusses how many people interpret it. Join us in “Introduction to the Book of Revelation.” Transcript With this episode of The Voice of Hope, we’re beginning a new series of study from the last book of […]

This episode wraps up our study of Jonah, and the theme has been the hearts. We have reflected on the heart of God, the heart of the sailors, the heart of the Ninevites, and the heart of Jonah. Today, we turn our gaze inward and look at our own hearts. The author of this book does a fantastic job of grabbing the person reading and giving them a good shake. We look at the lessons that Jonah has for us as a church and ask ourselves some questions: What about me? Is my heart like God’s? What has captured my […]

In this passage of Jonah, we see the prophet furious that God forgave the Ninevites. In contrast, we see God respond with patience and compassion toward Jonah. What was going on in Jonah’s heart in Jonah 4:1-11 ? It seems Jonah believed he had been forgiven only a little. Like Jonah, we tend towards self-justification. But the truth is that our sins are great, and we have all been forgiven much. The question is: do I believe I’m not that bad and have only been forgiven a little? Or do I recognize that I’ve been forgiven a lot? Transcript Remember […]

Have you ever found yourself wondering if God hears? This is a question that reaches to the core of who we are. Does God hear? Nineveh, a wicked city, gets God’s attention, and He hears. They cried out to God, and He showed them His incredible, life-changing mercy. What did the Ninevites do to get God’s attention? As we look at Jonah 3:1-10, I see four things they did which we still need to do today.  These actions—believing, humbling, crying, and repenting—are things we need to continue doing all our lives. Transcript Have you ever found yourself wondering if God hears? This is a question that reaches to the core of who we are. Does God hear? Does God […]

Are you in a pit? We all go through hard times, and being in a pit is challenging. These seasons test our faith and prompt us to wrestle with profound questions about God and ourselves. In Jonah 1:17-3:1, Jonah is in the belly of the fish—his pit. He is at his lowest point, physically and spiritually. He chose a path away from God. The good news is that God’s heart is for all people, and he wasn’t out to destroy Jonah. In Jonah’s pit, God gets Jonah’s attention, and his response shows us what we should do when we are in a pit. We […]

Throughout Jonah 1:5-16, we see how the prophet Jonah said one thing but lived another. However, the pagan sailors, who did not know God, were sensitive to Him and worshipped him genuinely. On this episode, “The Heart of the Sailors,” we see how the sailors’ response to their fears shows Jonah who He should be. It challenges us to be authentic and to ask ourselves the question, “Who really am I?” Transcript We’ve been journeying through the incredible book of Jonah, and today, is our third episode. Our focus today is a deeply personal and a somewhat uncomfortable question: Who […]

As we study the timeless book of Jonah, we discover a revelation of the very heart of God. Our mission today is to unpack what the book of Jonah shows us about God’s heart, especially looking at Jonah 1:1-4. Understanding God’s heart matters deeply because we are becoming what we worship. Seeing God for who He is will challenge our common misconceptions and invite us to grow in our understanding of His heart. When we have misperceptions about God, they create barriers in our relationship with Him. Today, we examine three common misconceptions about the heart of God and see […]