One thing I think about this text is that, in it, for all his power, Herod is the imprisoned or constrained one, not John. Herod knows that John is bringing good news; that's why he listens to John with joy. But, ultimately, he acts in a way contrary to what he knows to be right and contrary to what he wants to do. Pride, lust, an aversion to embarrassment drive him to kill John. He is in bondage to sin and cannot free himself. John though, is free. He lives in the freedom of the gospel. When you know that in Christ, death is not the end of your story, you needn't be cowed by what the devil and this world can do to you.

Great video brothers! I'm preaching this 4th of July weekend... Freedom in Christ! God bless!

Title: Canceling Jesus

7:24 as a agnostic, and self thought tarot reader who has interpreted religious texts ( mostly the bible) as a hobby, the mustard seet comparrason to the kingdom of heaven, appears to me to be a refference of potencial. As in, even in the smallest of ideas people can can find a troumendous amount of value if they take a nurturing approach, is they are curious for what the results are, and if they give it time and effort, and eventually, a person will get the fruits of their labour. But the reward is not only then, but in the active nourishing of this mustard seed on fertile land, you know how people who love doing something they feel imensely satisfied because the activity is a reward in of itself, and in those times they dont need anything more, because they already have what they need at that moment. The fertile soil part, if i were to generalise, it would be the curiosity, the approach, the philosophy with which we approach a new creation, the self analisys, the research, the mistakes, and the solutions, our attitude, and all of this combined makes a fertile soil for a human beeing to then enter the kingdom of god, kongdom of heaven, however you like to call it. Me personally, my interpretation of life,heaven, hell, and purgatory, is that it all happens here right now, so if i make actions which make my life better, than i am litterally in heaven presently. But whats this about ethernity in heaven or hell etc? My interpretation is that the universe is infinate and that it has cycles, a begining, present and end, and in one cycle, litterally everything thay is within the bounds of possibuility happens, and then when it ends and then starts again, it has no choice but to do the exact same things all over again, since evwrything that it will do is infact everything that is possible anyway. So you get whare im going with this i assume, but ill say it anyway. Basically, this infinate repetition is the infinity in heaven or in hell or purgatory. But in my interpretation, the amount of time you spend in each and how big each is depends on how you live your one life which will then repeat. So if you had 50 years of a good like and 5 of a hellish one, you will experience both over and over again, so they are both infinate but one infinity is bigger than the other. In this sence tho, its only very rare that someone can indeed experience only heaven, or only hell, or only purgatory, or whatever else theee might be that we arent aware of. Bare in mind that im not claiming that this us what actually happens, but what i think is the most plausable. Now whether god or God or gods exist or not, or both does and doesnt, i dont have evidence so i cant speak to that more than in a phisosophical sence as to what the implications might be for each scenatio as far as i understand things. Btw, i like your calm approach, even a fun approach, educational, pretty loving, and just openminded , and this is to me what religion should be like, so its a shame that so much of it has been coopted by powerhungry and misinformed groups and individuals which give religion in general a bad name. So keep up the awsome work gang ! If a loving God exists, than surely God is on your side

Perhaps his affliction was much more personal? Remember he talks about better to marry or burn? Addictions existed then as well.

Good discussion. We serve where God calls us to go, plants us and provide us with what we need for their care needed through word, sacrament and relationships. Always helpful with what y'all share. Thank you!

Respectfully are you guys aware that Easter is a Babylonian pagan holiday celebrating Ishtar aka Semiramis the Goddess of fertility who claims she is divine and came from an egg from the heavens dropped into the Euphrates River and they celebrate her by having orgies in attempts to conceive in April to give birth in December to sacrifice those baby’s to Nimrod the Sun God?

Kill the intro music it lingers way past when you guys start to talk.

"They will take from you exactly what you are trying to get out of them." - Memorable quote.

Apocalyptic literature (Book of Revelation)?

Great stuff again brothers! Preaching this tomorrow! God bless

The Bible is not a Cocktail and Spirits Recipes book either, a bar !interesting background representation,lot of people have a cross or trinity y’all have a bar what in the hell , might as well roll up some spliffs 😃what kind of spirits are you all chasing here or being lead by?while reading the word of God ………why not get some neon beer logos too and hang up in the background hey how bout maybe some that say sola scriptura ! There is a time and place for everything

Its not a history or science book either.

Why is there a woman on your channel talking about preaching and hermeneutics?

Wait I'm new her, but I'm confused by what seem to be alcohol display and drinking, I'm completely lost as to what is happening. Well I take nothing away from the talk it's very educational, or are we encouraged to take the message and not learn From the act?

Interesting contrast from last week, the disciples lacked faith and had cowardice where as in the Gospel this Sunday there's faith in two who have no connection with those disciples closest to Jesus.

Great job brothers! ☝🏾❤️

At 7:31 in the video. I believe it's Malachi 4:2 and not Micah.

My guess is, the woman touches only the hem of Jesus' garment because she knows that to touch Jesus would make him ritually unclean and in her mind that could incur the wrath of not only Jesus but also the great crowds that need his ministry. Of course, she shows tremendous faith in believing that touching the hem of Jesus' garment will be enough to effectuate her healing. She evidently thought this through very clearly.

This is good!

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

Very Good

i am pursuing righteousness for the right and the left not as two ends of the spectrum but as completely covered or fully engaged. It is a bit humbling to say that that is the Word and Sacraments and not my own righteousness or ideas yet wonderful as well. Thanks for the thoughts. We need a sign: "God at work for you -- 2kr."

Sermon idea that I had is "Jesus took naps and so should you!" This story show us that there are two reactions to "storms." Our reaction which is that of the disciples with anger, fear, and resentment, and then God's reaction which is sleep. Jesus is so at peace in the midst of the storm that He is able to sleep. The reality is everyone is going to die and yet in Christ for the believer it will be as sleep as their body awaits the coming resurrection. In the midst of the storm we too find peace in the beautiful and mighty power of God. We too are able to sleep off the storm for the Lord and giver of life is in our midst.

Dmml! I can tell you ppl that neither one of these guys know what it is to fulfill righteousness. You leave them thinking the Lord gave you his righteousness and therefore you are set. How can that be true when you know you are still in your sins. Anyone who fulfills righteousness the 2nd death has no power over them. The Bible has a blueprint to follow to fulfill righteousness. You must fulfill it for yourself. Why? BC you are only responsible for your own salvation. If any man do these he will fulfill righteousness. Many will fail to do it and just give lip service. Jn.1:12. - Matt.11:19-30. - II Pet.1:3,5,10. - Rom.12:1-7. - II Cor.4:6.Zech.4:6. This is the light yoke!

You can pray to receive the Holy Spirit. If/when you receive him, you will speak in tongues. At that point you have the Author and Finisher of your faith dwelling inside you. The scriptures will open up to you like you would not have ever thought possible. This is the identical experience that the Apostles had on the day of pentecost. The same yesterday, today and forever.

Really helpful discussion guys. Really appreciate your thoughts and watch this most weeks now. I found Mike and Ben's comments about Luther and the visitor to the hardware store really powerful and humbling. It's God's Word that's at work! Just one thing. Perhaps record yourselves 30 seconds earlier each week? Cos when it starts each time you're always laughing like Paul's told the best joke!! We wanna hear it! 😉

What's interesting is how horticulturally accurate the scripture may be with reference to mustard. It is a "garden plant" or herb, which is SOWN, it is sown ON the ground and water (rain) is used to make it settle in the earth, which may be the black mustard annual plants which can grow up to 9 feet tall and (small) birds may build their nests in the SHADE of a web of multiple mustard plants. It's possible Jesus was looking at just such a garden, bringing the parable to life.

It does give glory...to God.

I'm preaching this for Fathers Day this Sunday....Great video...God bless!

Appreciate this video. Thanks for keeping it real and sharing your knowledge. “When the silent speak; you listen.” Great wisdom

When I lived in Saudia Arabia in the 70's the shepherds had big black tents made from wool from the goats. I have always imagined Abraham in a similar tent. Here is what Exodus 26:1 - “Moreover, you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen and blue and purple and scarlet yarn

This is a very encouraging video brothers! Every preacher, pastor, christian, ECT should watch this! God bless!

This is gracious and thought provoking filled with inklings of wonder thank you.

thanks fellas and Blessing to you all!

Guys, I always love your faithfulness to the Word and insights. I have a different perspective about your comments on persecution. I believe we are very much persecuted in this country and in the last several decades this persecution has been getting more and more aggressive. It is certain that we haven't had much persecution by physical threats per se, but socially, morally, ethically, as the culture continues to aggressively attack our values, our identity based on Science and faith as males or females and painting Christians who are by Scripture conservative in nature as the enemy, and threatening and bullying us into silence for fear of verbal retribution, persecution is rampent in the US and is growing. I feel we need to now more than ever prepare our young to enter an ever hostile secular world that will at minimum shame them into silence but at the heart of their creed, would gladly turn them against their own faith in the name of intellectualism, inclusivism, and tolerance, which are misnamed catch words to give legitimacy to their real agenda to silence and eliminate the church. Christianity is being persecuted and many Christians are shamed into silence, at least that is what I have observed.

Thanks guys. I would add that being Lord of the Sabbath is connected to the eternal Sabbath the place He has gone to prepare for us.

Since I preached John 3 last week with Nicodemus about becoming Born Again, I decided to preach John 4 this week, as you guys said, these stories really run parallels with each other...The Living Water, the Holy Spirit, poured down upon Christs Church, we must be Born Again and never thirst again! God bless your preaching brothers!

Belief in Jesus comes first in everything we Christians do. For example, We do not do good works to be saved, we do good works because we are saved.

I am preaching this Pentecost talking about the positive that can from change. As the church and the world changes we need not worry about where God is. We are assured God has sent the Holy Spirit to care for us. The disciples likely were scared of Jesus leaving them yet no one was left alone and good happened. Peace.

So I'm confused. If works are not required, and yet Jesus asks us to "remain in my love" then isn't the remaining a work? The word "remain" is a verb, which is doing something. So isn't that a work? I'm so often confused by what the church means by "working." I see so many things that Jesus has asked us to do as works. I need a concise, real explanation of this conflict. Thanks.

I am wondering about the 11 elders comment. Joseph is not mentioned in the allotment because he gets two tribes "The sons of Joseph according to their clans: Manasseh and Ephraim." Numbers 26:28 It is Levi that does not get a territory. Even so there are still 12 (-Joseph and Levi + Manasseh and Ephraim) David's Census leaves out Gad and Asher (children of Leah's Servant) but adds in another 1/2 tribe for Manasseh and Arron (Still 12) Rev 7 has Joseph for Ephraim and Manasseh for Dan -again still 12??

Happy Birthday Church! God bless you brothers!

Since graduation and confirmation is upon us, I think I'm going to talk about Jesus preparing the disciples for life without them. Much like we have been preparing these kids in the church.

Praise God for having overcome the evil in the world and making us victorious thtough Christ! I therefore bind to hell one having more hope in world and political systems than in Christ in my life, the lives of my family, friends, colleagues, neighbours, acquitances, opponents and the body of Christ while binding one to know hope belongs to God and those who are in Christ, binding to hell every unequal yoke and common share with anyone having more hope in world and political systems than in Christ and anyone not knowing hope belongs to God and those in Christ, in accordance with this word and john 16:23-33, 1 john 4:4, romans 15:13, 2 corinthians 6:14-18 in the name and blood of Jesus Christ, amen and hallelujah, glory to God ❤!

Something that came to mind when we consider the fact that Jesus doesn't pray us out of the fight is how often people complain about our heathenistic and pagan culture. The reality is that is the culture God has sent you in to preach to! Christians should rejoice at the reality that the harvest is plentiful and the laborers are few. Instead of complaining about the lack of believers in the pews on Sunday lets go out into our vocations and preach the good news! Do the work Jesus has us here to do and pray that He continues to add laborers to His harvest.

I like your stuff but that intro song frequently drowns out your opening statements...

In today's ever confused culture, people are crying out for identity. If only they knew that the identity they crave is given to them in Jesus. They don't have to look at choosing their identity, but in receiving it. Thanks for such rich words today.

It is an odd division; what was said about the fruit of love is what I used for John 15:1-8 because the associated epistle lesson was 1 John 4 (God is love, we love because he first loved us...). Great idea, I think! I just wish the lectionary connected the two chapters thematically.

This was very helpful to be more understanding. Thanks!