Trinity Hudson Ministries Podcast

The Lord has set appointed times for everything under heaven and it is His will that reigns. Even while Jesus was on the earth, He submitted to the changes and will of the Father. Ultimately, God has a purpose for everything and that purpose is always for good. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8John 6:35-40

Luke 10:25-371 John 4:9-12We live in a world where any event or person can “go viral.” That means a digital version can be seen almost imme- diately around the world on FaceBook or YouTube or many other social media. On October 18, 2013, a bus driver in Buffalo, N.Y., named Darnell Barton pulled over his city bus on a freeway overpass and got out to coax a distraught woman from jumping to her death. His kindness, caught on a passenger’s cell phone, went viral. Many of the reports of this event actually refer to Mr. Barton as “a good Samaritan.” Why is that phrase used in a recent newspaper report? Let’s consider the famous story told by Jesus that is titled the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25 – 37). Once again, Jesus — master storyteller—has a shocking surprise in the middle of His story.

Matthew 21-18-32Psalm 128:1-4Often when a parent says to a child, “Did you hear me?” the intent is not to ask, “Did you hear audible sounds coming from my mouth into your ears?” The parent means, “Did you do what I said?” “Did you hear me?” means “Did you obey me?” Our English word “obey” comes from the Latin word for “to hear.” This is similar to the Old and New Testament use of the word “hear.” When Jesus says, “Let him who has ears to hear, let him hear,” He means, “Do what I am telling you to do.” Today’s parable stresses the priority of obedient actions over merely stated intentions.

2 Chronicles 7:11-15Psalm 5:1-7Luke 11:5-10 When we work, we work. When we pray, God works. Another high value in the kingdom of God is prayer. Jesus was a praying person, so much so that His disciples asked Him to teach them to pray. Jesus does give His disciples a model prayer (Luke 11:1–4; see also Matt. 6:9–13). But He gives more than a model prayer; he gives them a story to help motivate them to consistent praying. Let’s consider the story (parable) of the friend in need.

Genesis 18:22-33Colossians 3:12-15Psalm 100:1-5Matthew 18:23-35Forgiveness is highly valued by God. Jesus insisted that His followers forgive one another and even their enemies. One of Jesus’s close friends, Peter, asked Jesus how many times he had to forgive another sinning person. To paraphrase Jesus, “If you’re counting, you’re not forgiving.” What if we exercised the act of forgiveness the way Jesus did?

Jeremiah 17:5-8DT: Colossians 2:6-7Matthew 13:1-23Farmers live by faith. Many variables influence whether farmers reap a bountiful harvest or a slim-pickins’ crop. Weather patterns, soil conditions, right amounts of water and fertilizers, quality of seeds, and faithfulness of laborers—all these factors influence the crop yields and thus the profits earned. Millions of farmers around the world exercise faith each year in the farming process. The first parable Jesus told (as recorded in the Gospels) was about a farmer, a sower who scattered seeds for a crop. Let’s consider this parable in Matthew 13:1–23. The two parts of the story (parable) are easy to grasp: (1) Jesus told the story and, (2) Jesus explained the story.

Labor Day Message

Proverbs 3:1-8Matt. 14:22-33Seeing Jesus on the water was something new Peter. We often get excited about things that are new in our life. A new baby, a new job, a new house, a new business venture, a new school. Yet, after the newness, difficulty usually follows and we begin to doubt and loose hope. Just as Peter refocused on Jesus when the waters of doubt threatened, we too can trust that Jesus can walk on our water of struggle.

Zechariah 9:9-12Gal. 2:1–10 Matt. 16:13–19We generally think of the word “confession” as describing our act of asking for forgiveness. Confession is also an acclamation of something that is true. As Christ-followers, we can confess that Jesus is Savior and King. We can confess the freedom that we have in the Gospel of Christ. We can confess that the best life is a life lead in and through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Joshua 24:14-18Galatians 2:1-10Matt. 10:34–42Choosing generally means making a decision for something over and above something else. Sometimes the line of priority is hard to draw, especially when the options are both good.