06 What Does it Mean to Receive Jesus?

Today's passage is one of the "See For Yourself" passages Chapter 6 of Start Strong: A New Believer’s Guide to Christianity. In Matthew 10:40–42, Jesus makes a startling connection: the way we welcome His people reveals the way we welcome Him and, ultimately, the God who sent Him. This episode clarifies what it means to “receive” Jesus in Scripture, showing that it’s not a passive feeling but an active choice to accept, listen, and embrace His messengers and message. In this week’s episode, we explore:What “receive” means in the Bible and why it implies deliberate welcome rather than passive contactHow receiving Jesus’ disciples reflects receiving Jesus Himself (and the Father who sent Him)What it means to receive a prophet “in the name of a prophet” Why Jesus links “reward” to salvation and mercyWhy Jesus calls His disciples “little ones,” and how humility and dependence shape true faithHow welcoming a disciple with something as small as a cup of cold water carries eternal significanceWhat your response to Scripture (the apostles’ words) and to fellow believers reveals about your heart toward GodAfter listening, you’ll have a clearer, more biblical understanding of what it means to “receive” Jesus and why faith shows up in concrete, everyday welcomes. Series: Start Strong: A New Believer’s Podcast