John 14:6, said John 14:26

Do u believe in pee trib rapture?

Ur no fun

Oh for phuck's sake!

18:56 thanks for the great, uplifting talk.❤

This very accurately describes what happened when I came to the conclusion that sola Scriptura wasn’t true. Lots of upheaval and reevaluation. Ended up In Catholicism

I Corinthians 14 is interesting to read in light of I Corinthians 11

Good context to know that there are apostles outside of the 12 apostles.

💔 'Promo SM'

promosm

Thank you for such encouraging words

Good stuff! Your comment on the influence of Greek philosophy is a deep rabbit-hole of its own. The "After Class" podcast is doing a series on "God and Change", touching on immutability right now. Eventually they will look at Open Theism too.

😌 𝓅𝓇𝑜𝓂𝑜𝓈𝓂

Are you a 501c3 non profit ?

Great encouragement

Thanks for the lesson Gerald!

Thanks Ethan for this profound and important lesson.

Jesus told Christians to pray for God's Kingdom to come and for His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. God's Kingdom is a heavenly government ruled by Jesus Christ as King. Soon Jesus will bring beautiful changes to the earth. There will be no more death, pain or sorrow on earth, Revelation 21:4,5! No more wickedness on earth, Psalms 37:9-11! After Armageddon the meek will inherit the earth and live forever on it, Psalms 37:29; Matthew 5:5; Proverbs 2:21,22! The earth will be cultivated into a Paradise like God intended in the beginning, Genesis 1:28; Isaiah 55:11! Jesus will do on a grand scale what he did when he walked the earth including raising those who are asleep in death, John 5:28,29! There will only be one government over the entire earth forever, Daniel 2:44! Jesus said that this good news of the Kingdom would be preached about in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come, Matthew 24:14! Soon Jesus will make sure that God's Will is done on earth as it is in heaven, will you be there to see it? John 4:22-2; John 1 :3; Isaiah 42:8!

Great lesson!

Great lesson Ethan!

Excellent lesson!!! Thank you!!!

French fries with steak??? ;))

Also, I think it’s sweet, and breaks my heart when Jesus asks his disciples in verse 67 “do you also want to go away?” That is somehow so poignant and sweet for the ruler of all creation to ask his disciples, his friends... Jesus truly treated his disciples as brothers and friends

Thank you Ethan... This is a very practical sermon and a great reminder for me to cling to what is good and walk with God daily in my walk of faith... I have a question; In John 6:65 why does Jesus say - John 6:65 (NKJV): “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”??? Is it because some lacked faith, or was their lack of faith because it was not given by the Father??? How do you interpret this???

Thank you for this beautiful lesson... Mary was a brave and faithful girl who found great joy in God’s promises... She sang a new psalm...

Adam, This was an excellent lesson! I learned a great deal and you are an excellent speaker!

Another insightful and valuable lesson, Ethan! Thank you for telloing it like we need to hear it!

I have a question for Ethan... Ethan have you ever had to leave a congregation that refused to follow God, or follow the truth??? Also, have you ever had to confess your sins to a congregation???

Another excellent lesson that demonstrates both the goodness and severity of God... Important in understanding His personality and expectations for us... I like your comments about stumbling blocks, because I believe that they are placed in our path to cause us to become more agile in our walk with God, so that we may be strengthened in order to finish the race... I want to write more, but last time I tried to comment here, I ran out of space... Is there another forum that I can answer questions and write to??? I commented on your prayer request forum but realize now that I caused you all to think that I needed prayers (although I always do need them)... I apologize!!! Please let me know the appropriate place to ask questions and comment... Sincerely and in Christ, Betsy

I have learned to show Mercy to so many people, especially consoidering from where I have come back to Christ and the cofC from! However, Ethn, I am very clear at how difficult it, in this day in time, to even catch the ear of people to in the World, to bring people to hear the Truth, in Truth and Spirit. I get so discouraged as I try to bring people to God through Christ. I haven't given up trying, nor will I try, but man, I see the challenges every day and it seems to me as if the Powers and Principalities of the World are growing stronger by the day! So frustrating knowing how to approach people who's heart's are so hardened in the world!! Footnote: I do pray to G od through Christ to help me speak to other's about Christ and it is not that I have any fear and I ask God to help Him to help me to know how to talk to other people to know how to approach other people to tell other's about Christ!

Awesome message, Ethan! It needed to be heard!

Also, I appreciate the reminders and visuals on how to steer clear of the worlds wisdom and comfort... I think that we all fight that fight at times, and it is very important... I also like the analogy of the sheep that is separated from its herd falling victim to the lion... Great visual and very important... Question: Eve was deceived by the serpent, but Adam chose to receive the fruit from Eve... Was she the evil company that corrupted his good morals, or were they both deceived by the serpent's influence???

Another excellent lesson that encouraged me... I like the way you always talk about embodying Christ... It reminds me of the verses in Romans which speak about putting on Christ, and verses in Ephesians which speak of the Armor of God... Does the Venice church worship in person, or just online sermons???

Besides God knows all of our hearts... He knows wether we struggle and really try... He knows when we’re sleeping and awake, LOL!!! He is able to see into a persons heart and divide what is what in each of our hearts... We as Christians aren’t qualified for such activities and neither do we need to worry about judging others... Better to focus on our own weaknesses and finding ways to improve our own short comings... Better to remember that we were given the gift of forgiveness because we were also snatched from the fire...

Thinking on things I recalled a prophecy in Revelation about a beast who was given a mouth to speak arrogant things and blaspheme... There’s no way to know, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the beast is social media... At a time when it isn’t cool to follow Christ, it may be better to show the world how human Christians really are, and that we struggle to follow Christ simply because it is worth it, and is the best way... Trying to sell the world a Christianity that claims that it’s members are perfect, is in essence setting all of us up for failure... Especially once social media gets a hold of it... Don’t you think it’s better to be humble and admit weakness??? That’s why God sacrificed His beloved son after all... So that we could all be forgiven... I think we forget what it means to be forgiven and human like the world...

I think that most people in the world react very well to meekness and gentleness because it is so rare... The world is starving for gentleness!!! Society is fed a constant diet of toxic messages mostly because shock value sells, but most people that I know don’t live their lives the way that is exploited in media... I know too many people who are actually living very good lives, but don’t believe or profess Christ because media has discredited faith and the bible... Followers of Christ are always presented in a negative way through the various public media...

I think that most people in the world react very well to meekness and gentleness because it is so rare... The world is starving for gentleness!!! Society is fed a constant diet of toxic messages mostly because shock value sells, but most people that I know don’t live their lives the way that is exploited in media... I know too many people who are actually living very good lives, but don’t believe or profess Christ because media has discredited faith and the bible... Followers of Christ are always presented in a negative way through the various public media...

I enjoyed your sermon on gentleness and meekness Ethan... Somehow my mind envisioned the kindness of a Jesus trying to draw the helpless and lost masses to himself, speaking in parables that they might understand... A mix of all of the masses rich and poor, looking to Him for answers... What if Jesus had decided that it all wasn’t worth it??? What if he instead, decided to return to Heaven, gossip about all those stupid losers he met on earth, and instead asked his father, you’ve gotta’ be kidding??? Give my life for that bunch??? Foghettaboutit!!! I think that as Christians we forget just how important it is to be humble... We forget about WHAT he really did!!! Did Jesus have to obey his father???

Thank you for your response... You’re very kind!!! Sincerely

I guess I'm in the mood to tell my stories... A friend and coworker who is gay once asked me if I thought he was going to hell for being gay... He obviously knew that I called myself a Christian, but we had never talked with one another about the subject before... I told him that the Bible says that anyone who takes up the cross to follow Christ, will be at war with their own flesh... That the bible tells us that the spirit itself is at war with the flesh... That all sexual relationships outside of a sanctified marriage, such as adultery, fornication (which is sex outside of marriage) are ALL considered sin, and separates us from the Love of God... I told him about my own struggles throughout life, and that I was not always faithfull or successful in obedience to God... I told him that although I have overcome many difficulties in my life, that I sometimes still struggle, and have to be watchful... I explained how difficult marriage is, and had it not been for my faith that I never would have stuck with it... Also that there is so much to be learned and gained by sticking with God's word... The bible taught me the value of that kind of dedication, throughout all of the difficulties of marriage... Nothing else could have taught me that... That although we live in a throw away society where people are often discarded, that love really is about selfless giving, and seeing one another through all the difficult times... We live for the life beyond this one, and that is why I bother to struggle in the first place... Otherwise, why bother to struggle at all??? Go ahead and do whatever you want... I was very pragmatic in my conversation with him... My friend seemed astounded and frightened by my answer... I don't think that he expected an honest answer... I think mostly what he hears of Christianity is what he hears on CNN, and of course much of what you hear on television is meant to discredit Christians... Believe me when I say that it wasn't an easy conversation for me to have with him... I basically told him something very personal about myself, and wasn't sure if I would be attacked for it... We were at work at the time... I prayed about it afterward, not know what would happen... Once in a blue moon I still run into him around the system, as working in the airline business is a very small community... When we do run into one another, we still give each other a big hug and talk... I hope that I've left a door open for him to seek God, and never feel that he isn't wanted, and that he is somehow defective... He is such a tender loving soul, and when I think of him, I miss him...

If Christ himself were to walk in the front door of the church, would any of us recognize him, or would we distain the poor fellow???

Hello Venice COC... I want to tell Ethan that I really appreciate his sermons because he always incorporates both the goodness and severity of God... His sermons appear complete to me in this, and I believe that he has a heart that follows Christ... I am encouraged by today's lesson because I believe that basic reminders ARE very important... I also try to study in a way that I do not glaze over verses that I simply do not want to hear... I think that some of the most glazed over verses are Mark 2: 13-17, and 2 Cor 2:7, Matthew 18: 21-22, and John 8: 1-11... I was raised in the church and what I find in many of the churches is a group of people who would rather point the finger and use weak members as a sort of whipping boy, rather that teach and offer a hand up... People are easily discarded in the churches, and our own children fall away because of this... We make it impossible for them to live up to the standards that we set, and vilify them rather than offer sound teaching and a way to overcome sin... There is a very old preacher in his late seventies, who once confessed from the pulpit, that he often has sinful thoughts which try to take up residence in his mind... He said "There isn't much that can be done about those thoughts come calling, but what you never want to do, is invite them in, put up a white picket fence around them, and start planting flowers and a hedge around them"... To my dying day that visual will stay with me, and has been instrumental in my life at the very times I've needed it... He had many other such sayings, such as "Never come to the throne of God empty handed"... His sayings aren't exactly scriptural, and yet have guided many people back to God, because I believe that they are the testimony of someone who has lived his life for God in faith... He is an honest and faithful man... We all have a story and a testimony... Some can teach more about what not to do than others, LOL!!! I have spent many of my young years with one foot in a grave and the other on a banana peel... I guess I'm a slow learner, and had many emotions that were difficult to work through... My story is probably very different that most others in the church... Some take longer than others to come to a point of faith, and unless you've walked in my shoes, you may never know how tough it was for me to come to a point of faith... For sure it's better to learn to be faithful early on, but what can you do if someone learns later??? If you won't accept them back, then you might as well take a gun and shoot them... You've already destroying them anyway... I've met too many preacher's children, who ended up exactly like that... Destroyed by their parent's faith... I get that living in such a way that embodies Christ is how we will bring others to Christ, but somehow I feel that to the church this means, lying about our own faults in order to give the appearance of being Christ-like... Rather doesn't the Bible say to confess our sins to one another??? Do you think that God may be telling us to confess to one another for a reason??? Perhaps it makes us seem more human to the world around us, as well as to one another and our own children... They may actually be able to relate to what the struggle really is after all... The struggle is real, and politely hiding it, won't make it go away... You know it, I know it, our children sense it and everyone in the church knows it, wether they try to hide it or not... James :16, and 1John 1:9... Sorry to blog so much!!! Those are just my thoughts for the day...

😇Amen. Thank you.

Hey there, Venice church of Christ. it is fairly mysterious video. thanks. :)

An awesome lesson today, Ethan!

perfect reminder for all of us in this time of fear. excellent sermon I certainly needed to hear it.

thank you for the excellent lesson ethan!

excellent lesson ethan, thank you!

Fantastic message, thank you. Hope to see you and all the church family soon!

Excellent sermon Ethan, thank you!