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Amen Podcast

Podcast Amen Podcast
Amen Podcast
Preaching the good news of Jesus Christ and how it applies to everyday life. amenpodcast.substack.com

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5 of 286
  • Breath
    Introduction* Christianity is more than just feelings or Sunday experiences* The Greek word for "breath" and "spirit" (pneuma) is the same word* The connection between breath, life, and the Spirit of GodThe Spirit Gives Us Access to the Mind of God* 1 Corinthians 2:10-13 - The Spirit searches the depths of God* Just as our breath enters our brain before we speak, God's Spirit knows His thoughts* Through the Spirit, believers have special access to God's wisdomThe Story of Joseph: Dreams and Divine Purpose* Joseph's dreams came directly from God* His brothers' rejection couldn't stop God's purpose* Jesus is the greater Joseph* Rejected by his brothers* Through death, brought salvation* Gave up His breath so we could receive itThe Life-Changing Power of the Spirit* Romans 8:11 - The same Spirit that raised Jesus lives in believers* Having the Spirit means our lives should visibly change* The Spirit transforms our character and dispositionThe Treasures of Knowing God Deeply* Access to the depths of God means access to deeper joy* The Spirit brings transformation to others through us* There's always more treasure to discover in ChristChallenge* If you're not experiencing growth or change, examine your connection to the Spirit* Don't let the world make you feel strange for showing Christian character* Don't snatch away what God is trying to do in your lifeConclusion* Take time to ask: "What is the Spirit doing in my life right now?"* God's Spirit is meant to turn everything upside down* Let the life-giving power of the Spirit work through you This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amenpodcast.substack.com
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  • Love God, Love Others
    AMENPODCAST.COMMatthew 22:34-40 Bible StudyFrom the Amen Podcast with Alex and LokalaniScripture ReadingBut when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?" And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets."— Matthew 22:34-40 (ESV)ContextIn this passage, Jesus faces the third and final question from religious leaders trying to trap him during Holy Week. The Pharisees had already tried to entrap him with a question about taxes. The Sadducees had attempted to trick him with a theological puzzle about resurrection. Now, a lawyer from the Pharisees tests Jesus about which of the 613 commandments in the law is greatest.Christ's answer is brilliant and silences his critics. He doesn't simply pick one law over the others—he summarizes the entire law by combining two passages:* Deuteronomy 6:5 — "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might."* Leviticus 19:18 — "You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord."Key Points1. The Command Is Also an InvitationWhen Jesus answers with "love God and love your neighbor," he's not just giving a command; he's offering an invitation to freedom. God's commandments were never meant to be oppressive rules but a pathway to life, joy, and communion with Him and others.2. Love God, Love PeopleThis "greatest commandment" is comprehensive and binary:* Vertical relationship: Love God with your whole being* Horizontal relationship: Love your neighbors as yourselfEvery other commandment flows from these two principles. If we love God truly, we will keep His commandments. If we love our neighbors, we will not harm them but seek their good.3. The Example of Onan: Breaking the Greatest CommandmentIn Genesis 38:8-10, we see Onan refusing to fulfill his duty to his deceased brother's wife, Tamar. By selfishly seeking his own gratification without responsibility, Onan:* Failed to love God by disrespecting His plan for the family lineage* Failed to love his neighbor (Tamar) by denying her security and protectionThis story illustrates how we become selfish when we break the greatest commandment. We choose gratification over responsibility, personal desires over the needs of others.4. Christ Perfectly Fulfilled the CommandmentJesus is the only one who perfectly loved God and others:* He loved God so much that he was obedient to death on a cross* He loved his neighbors (us) so much that he laid down his life for us while we were still sinnersJesus didn't just teach the greatest commandment—he demonstrated it through his sacrifice.Application Questions* How can you love God more fully this week? Consider practical ways to express your love through obedience, worship, and time with Him.* Who is your "neighbor" that needs your love right now? Think about family members, coworkers, church members, and actual neighbors who might need encouragement, forgiveness, or practical help.* In what areas of your life are you being selfish like Onan? Where are you choosing gratification over responsibility?* How has your perspective on God's commands changed? Do you see them as restrictive rules or as invitations to freedom and love?* What gifts has God given you that you can use to love others in your church community?Closing ThoughtsWhen we shift our mindset from "I have to love God and others" to "I get to love God and others," everything changes. This isn't just a duty—it's a privilege and the pathway to true joy.The more we walk in obedience, the more natural loving God and loving others becomes. As we grow in Christ, we find that loving others flows more easily from us because God's own love fills our hearts.Remember: To love God is to obey Him. To love others is to serve them. And in doing both, we experience the life Jesus intended for us."How can you love God and love others?" Share your answers in the comments below!PrayerFather, thank you for your leadership and for teaching us in ways we never expected. Help us to remember that loving you and loving others is not merely a command but an invitation to experience life as you designed it. Guide us to love you through our obedience and to love others through service and sacrifice. In Jesus' name, amen.amen podcast website This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amenpodcast.substack.com
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  • Finding Rest | Catechism #10
    In this episode, Alex discusses the importance of family togetherness and the Fourth and Fifth Commandments from his backyard gym. He shares how House Church began with the vision of families worshiping together rather than being separated into different rooms. He explains the three aspects of Sabbath: rhythm (establishing healthy patterns), rejuvenation (spiritual and physical restoration), and rest (embracing God's grace without working for salvation). Alex connects the Sabbath to the commandment to honor parents, emphasizing that our first relationship with father and mother shapes all future relationships. He concludes that a right relationship with God through Christ enables us to heal other relationships and truly embrace Sabbath rest. The episode is part of the Amen podcast, which can be found at amenepodcast.com and on Instagram. AmenPodcast.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amenpodcast.substack.com
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  • The Best Is Yet to Come | HOUSE CHURCH
    In a world that constantly pulls us toward immediate gratification and worldly success, we often forget a profound biblical truth: for those who love God, the best is yet to come.A Wisdom the World Doesn't UnderstandRecently, I was reflecting on Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 2:8-9:"None of the rulers of this age knew this wisdom because if they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But it is written: What no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human heart has conceived—God has prepared these things for those who love him."This passage reveals something extraordinary about how God works. The rulers who crucified Jesus—Tiberius, Pontius Pilate, Herod Antipas, and the religious leaders—acted in complete ignorance of God's wisdom. Had they understood what their actions would ultimately accomplish, they would have stopped immediately.They had no idea that by crucifying Jesus, they were signing their own death warrant. They couldn't foresee how this seemingly small religious execution would lead to the rise of Christianity and eventually the end of the Roman Empire as followers of Christ lived as loyal citizens under Rome while giving their ultimate allegiance to God.Living Differently: The Example of DanielThis pattern of God working in ways that exceed human imagination appears throughout scripture. Consider Daniel, who served in the highest levels of government yet remained uncompromisingly devoted to God.When faced with a law forbidding prayer to anyone but the king, Daniel didn't hesitate or hide. Daniel 6:10 tells us: "When Daniel learned about the document that had been signed, he went to his house... three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before."Daniel changed nothing when threatened with the lions' den. Why? Because his life was already aligned with God's purposes. He already loved God and lived differently, so when pressure came, consistency—not change—was his response.For those living in alignment with God's will, the key isn't radical change but faithful consistency. For those not living in obedience to God, significant changes may be necessary. But for Daniel, obedience meant simply continuing what he was already doing.What No Eye Has SeenThroughout his life, Daniel repeatedly experienced things he could never have imagined:* Surviving the lions' den* Sleeping to the sound of purring lions* Seeing Judaism become elevated throughout the Persian Empire because of his faithfulness* Witnessing the king decree that everyone should worship Daniel's GodThese experiences beautifully illustrate Paul's promise that "what no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human heart has conceived, God has prepared for those who love him."The Greater DanielJesus is the greater Daniel. Just as Daniel emerged from the lions' den unharmed with no broken bones, Jesus emerged from death itself without a single bone broken—fulfilling the prophecy of Psalm 34:20.What enabled Jesus to endure the cross? Hebrews 12:2 tells us it was "for the joy set before him." That joy was knowing that for His children, the best was yet to come. His love for the Father and His love for us carried Him through.From Darkness to LightWhen I was eight years old, I was exposed to inappropriate content at a friend's house. That experience began a journey into darkness I couldn't have imagined at the time. Yet, more than twenty years later, God has completely reversed that trajectory.Never would I have dreamed that God would take that broken child and transform him into someone who influences others for good. What seemed irreversible—the shame and darkness—God turned completely around.The Power of the CrossThis is why I can't stop talking about the cross. It's not just that God redeemed us there; He reversed everything sin did in our lives. The cross gives us power to let go of anything we're holding onto too tightly—those things we think define us—because we know the best is yet to come.How Does This Change Us?So I leave you with this question: How does believing the best is yet to come encourage you today?Whatever you're facing—however dark, lonely, or impossible your situation seems—if you hold onto the hope of the cross and resurrection, you can live differently. You can endure. You can overcome.Because for those who love God, the best truly is yet to come.amenpodcast.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amenpodcast.substack.com
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  • Silencing Sin
    Continuing our series on Matthew 22amenpodcast.comWhen Religious Critics AttackIn our ongoing exploration of Matthew 22, we encounter Jesus facing his second challenge of the day. After silencing the Pharisees, Jesus now confronts the Sadducees, who approach Him with skepticism and mockery about the resurrection.The passage (Matthew 22:23-34) reveals how Jesus masterfully responds to those who attempt to trap Him with theological questions. This interaction provides powerful lessons for believers today who face criticism or mockery for their faith.Who Were the Sadducees?Before diving into Jesus' response, it's important to understand who the Sadducees were:* They only accepted the Torah (the first five books of the Bible) as authoritative scripture* They rejected the concept of resurrection because they found no explicit mention of it in the Torah* They were part of the religious establishment that felt threatened by Jesus' growing influenceThe Trick QuestionThe Sadducees approached Jesus with what they believed was a foolproof theological trap:"Teacher, Moses said if a man dies having no children, his brother must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. Now there were seven brothers among us. The first married and died, and having no offspring, left his wife to his brother. So too the second and third, down to the seventh. After them all, the woman died. In the resurrection, therefore, of the seven, whose wife will she be? For they all had her."Their question referenced Deuteronomy 25:5-6, the law of levirate marriage designed to preserve family lines. By creating this extreme scenario involving seven brothers marrying the same woman, they hoped to mock the very concept of resurrection that Jesus taught.Jesus' Two-Fold ResponseJesus doesn't hesitate or become defensive. Instead, He identifies two critical flaws in their thinking:* "You know neither the Scriptures..." - Despite their supposed expertise in the Torah, they missed its deeper teachings about eternal life* "...nor the power of God" - They limited God's abilities to their own understanding of realityJesus then explains that marriage is an earthly institution, not continued in heaven the same way. More powerfully, He uses their own accepted Scripture against them, quoting Exodus: "I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." By emphasizing that God "is not the God of the dead, but of the living," Jesus affirms the resurrection from within the very Torah they claimed to revere.Silencing Enemies God's WayThis passage teaches us vital lessons about dealing with those who mock or criticize our faith:* Stay grounded in Scripture - Jesus didn't rely on eloquence or personal attacks but on the truth of God's word* Trust in God's power - When we limit God to our understanding, we miss His greater purposes* Let God silence critics - Rather than seeking personal vengeance, allow God's truth to speakA Personal ExampleI'm reminded of our own journey in ministry. Years ago, my husband and I began creating Christian content online, facing mockery and criticism from many who thought it was "weird" or "cringe." A year before COVID-19, we felt led to start digital church services despite skepticism.When the pandemic hit, what had seemed foolish to critics suddenly became essential. The infrastructure we had built became a lifeline for thousands seeking spiritual nourishment during lockdowns. Without fighting our critics or defending ourselves, God vindicated our efforts through His timing and provision.The Final WordThe crowd's reaction to Jesus' response says it all: "they were astonished at his teaching." The Sadducees, who came to trap Jesus, found themselves silenced instead.This remains true for believers today. When we face opposition, mockery, or attempts to undermine our faith, we don't need to fight back in our "own power, own pride, or own vengeance." Instead, like Jesus, we can rely on God's Word and God's power.God will get the final word. His Word will not return void. Our call is to remain faithful, continue in what He's called us to do, and trust Him with the results."For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." - Hebrews 4:12Join us next week as we continue our series through Matthew 22 with Jesus' third response to His critics.Prayer Prompt: Where in your life do you need to trust God to silence critics rather than fighting them yourself? Spend time asking God to help you know His Word more deeply and trust His power more fully.If this post encouraged you, please share it with others and subscribe to receive our weekly devotionals directly to your inbox. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amenpodcast.substack.com
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Preaching the good news of Jesus Christ and how it applies to everyday life. amenpodcast.substack.com
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