Transforming Lives Together Podcast

Jesus said, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” Scripture is clear that our life on this planet is nothing more than a vapor, or like a flower that blossoms for a season and then withers away and is no more. Such is the stuff of this world, too; it rusts, it tarnishes, and it decays. Still, the temptation exists for us to put so much stock in that which is temporary rather than in that which is eternal. The way we overcome such temptation is through self-denial, through taking up our cross daily and following Jesus. This, of course, is not easy because our sinful nature is constantly waging war with God’s Spirit in us, and in some cases, this internal struggle is fleshed out through the external reality of persecution. In our study this week, Jesus encourages the persecuted church in Smyrna and assures them of the eternal, unfading crown awaiting all those who endure to the end.

It is difficult to hold truth and love together in our culture today, especially when we’re pressured to accept that there are different kinds of love and different truths to live by. One temptation we ultimately face is to place love above truth, to be tolerating and accepting of beliefs and behaviors that God does not accept nor tolerate. In giving in to this temptation, many churches have died or are dying, and many have been deceived through their false teaching. Another temptation is to place truth above love, to treat those who are less than “perfect” as objects of God’s wrath rather than objects of His mercy. In giving in to this temptation, many churches have died or are dying, and many have been scarred spiritually and emotionally, believing they don’t belong. In order for us to be faithful and effective witnesses, we need to hold to the truth of God’s Word while also proclaiming and living out His love, acknowledging that none of us measures up to His standard, but that there is grace and forgiveness available to all who repent and turn to the Lord.

Today, we remember Polycarp, Bishop and Martyr of Smyrna.

The short bio on Polycarp is taken from the 2001 edition of the Lesser Feasts and Fasts.

The scripture reading for today is from Matthew 20:20-23(ESV).

The Collect comes from the Lesser Feasts and Fasts.

Hello and welcome to the Transforming Lives Together Podcast.

The word “culture” is used often in our discourse today. You may have heard people talk about a “culture war,” or about things that are “counterculture,” or there being a “lack of culture,” say in an organization. This emphasis of, and concern over, culture points to the importance of having a common set of values, a shared vision of what it means to live the good life that our lives and our communities can be rooted in. Much like in the parable of the tares, when other interests, especially those that are immoral, are sown into the culture we’re growing, some of the fruit becomes tangled up and choked. This is what we will see as we turn our attention to Christ’s letter to the seven churches in Asia Minor, beginning with the church in Ephesus.

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Today, we remember Fr. Absalom Jones.

The short bio on Fr. Jones is taken from the 2001 edition of the Lesser Feasts and Fasts.

The scripture reading for today is from Isaiah 61:1-4(ESV).

The Collect comes from the Lesser Feasts and Fasts.

In one of Fanny Crosby’s more famous hymns, we hear the line, “Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! O what a foretaste of glory divine!” Foretaste is a good word to describe what John receives on our behalf in the book of Revelation: a foretaste of Christ’s divinity and majesty, a foretaste of heavenly worship, a foretaste of things to come. As we will learn in our lesson this week, this vision that John receives is also an assurance to us of Christ’s victory over death and our victory through Him, and we can live this life with confidence because Jesus is the first and final word, and the one who holds all the cards.

Today we remember priests and reformers of the church, John and Charles Wesley.

The short bio on John and Charles is taken from the 2001 edition of the Lesser Feasts and Fasts.

The scripture reading for today comes from Isaiah 49:5-6(NKJV).

The Collect comes from the Lesser Feasts and Fasts.

Life comes with many trials and difficulties, and you find that out the moment you take your first breath on this planet. Most times we may be able to lean on our friends and family to help us get by, but sometimes we’re on our own, or we feel that way. In the moment, we may decide to give up, thinking there’s no end in sight. We may even doubt our beliefs. So, what is the secret to persevering through hard times? The answer can be found in Psalm 11 verse 4, “The Lord is in His holy temple, The Lord’s throne is in heaven.” This is what John witnesses at the beginning of his vision. There John sees, in the words of Daniel, “one like the Son of Man” seated on a throne in the middle of the golden lampstands. This means the one who loves us and died for us has indeed overcome the world, and now reigns in heaven, assuring us of our own victory over this world no matter how difficult our life gets.

Today we remember Anglican priest and poet, George Herbert.

The short bio on George is taken from the 2001 edition of the Lesser Feasts and Fasts.

The scripture reading for today comes from 1 Peter 5:1-4(NKJV).

The Collect comes from the Lesser Feasts and Fasts.

One of the many things to consider when studying the book of Revelation is how Jesus and the Father are presented. John is giving us a glimpse into heaven, a peek behind the veil to encourage us and confirm what we believe regarding the nature of God the Father and God the Son, Jesus Christ. The churches John was writing to were dealing with various issues, and some were enduring persecution. His account of what he witnessed, the revealing of what is truly real, was a sober reminder and warning to those in folly, and a cup of cold water to those faithful souls, wearied and parched. Today, we should draw encouragement from John’s witness, that everything, the entire universe and all that it contains, is held together by Christ, who is the Alpha and the Omega.