New Church Audio - A New Christianity

The Lord’s Word or Bible is a book of parables. That does not mean that it is not true. It means that it is more true because it contains not only a literal and historical meaning, but also an internal sense which is a mirror of our spiritual path–the struggles and triumphs we can face, as well as being prescriptive of how we can grow spiritually. Understanding the Word falsely is no small matter. Reading it and understanding it only literally has caused immense amounts of damage and pain. We must remember that the Lord’s Word is only about how to love the Lord and how to be thoughtful and kind to one another. “In itself the Word is nothing but the doctrine of love to the Lord, and of charity toward the neighbor.” [Secrets of Heaven 7262]

This Sunday we continue our series on True Christianity by exploring one of the most important questions we can ask: Who is God? Some see God as distant or angry; some think of three different persons making up the one God; others feel uncertain who to pray to, etc. How we understand and see God impacts how we live and whether we feel that we can find a connection with God. Join us as we explore the powerful blessing of knowing God as One—the Lord Jesus Christ—"in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily" (Colossians 2:9). The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in one Person - like the soul, body and activity of one person. Discover how this truth brings clarity, comfort, and a faith built on love, not confusion. “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one” (Deuteronomy 6:4). “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? (John 14:9)

The Bible, the very Word of God, is our link to the Lord and His Teachings. And yet, it is not always obvious how it works. What are we to make of the confusing parts? Or the contradictions? Why is God so obtuse in revealing Himself to us? A large part of the answer to these questions can be found through understanding the spiritual sense that lies beneath the surface of every verse of the Word.

One of the central teachings of the New Church is that the Word has a deeper, spiritual meaning. This meaning runs through every story, every phrase, and even every word. This Sunday we'll talk about this deeper spiritual sense, and why it was revealed only hundreds of years after the Word was written, and the role it plays in the establishment of the New Church.

What's going to happen in the future of the New Church? What are things going to look like in the next 50 years or the next 1000 years? Will there be a need for another new church? This Sunday, as we celebrate the founding of the New Church 250 years ago, we will try to get a picture of the future of the New Church and an understand of what our role is right now.

The New Church teaches that the Apocalypse has already taken place: in fact, it took place over 250 years ago, as the New Church was being born into the world. Understanding the spiritual events from that time period can help us better understand the world we live in today. Last week, Malcolm talked about how the mere existence of the New Church did not automatically make people better: even New Church people have, and still can, support abhorrent practices. This week we will talk about the difference the New Church does make, and why it matters that a New Church was established and continues to exist.

Things in the world these days can seem rather apocalyptic. Intriguingly the teachings of the New Church say that the apocalypse has already happened, over 250 years ago in fact. What does that mean for us today? How can that larger narrative help us to understand what's going on in the world at the moment?

This Easter Sunday we are going to be focussing on the women at the tomb. Mary Magdalene, Mary (who had given birth to Jesus), and some other women were the first people at the tomb on Easter morning. And Mary Magdalene was the first person to see the Lord in His resurrection. Why was this and what can we learn from this about what in us will be most able to see and believe in the risen Lord?

Message of the Day. A series to support people during the corona virus outbreak. Audio from video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/MvbrL_PZnis

So much of life is out of our control. We can feel helpless in the face of that. The Lord experienced similar circumstances when He was in the world. Before He was glorified, His conscious awareness was bound by limits, just as ours, so that He could be attacked by hell. In these moments, He was able to overcome because He could draw on an inner power that was His own. We are indeed powerless in such moments; but the Human God is with us. Can we trust in him?

'Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.' (Matthew 25:1-4)

'Therefore it will happen, when the Egyptians see you, that they will say, 'This is his wife'; and they will kill me, but they will let you live. Please say you are my sister, that it will be well with me for your sake, and that I may live because of you.' (Genesis 12:12-13)

'Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going.' John 12:35

A serial audio book of Angelic Wisdom Regarding Divine Providence, penned by Emanuel Swedenborg. First published 1764, translated from the original Latin by N. Bruce Rogers. Copyright 2003 General Church of the New Jerusalem. Used by permission. Read by Judah Synnestvedt. (For more chapters, select "Divine Providence - Audiobook" from the Group search button.)

Prayer is speech with God. Make it a daily habit. Kindle a passion of service to others. Read the Word of God. Listen for His answers. Pray for others.

What is the purpose of your life?

How the life of Jesus embodied the Lord's Prayer

One thing the disciples learned - if the Lord is with you in the boat, you don't need to be afraid.

1 - Part 1-The Miracles of Jesus Christ 14:52 2 - Part 2-Jesus Turns Water Into Wine 13:44 3 - Part 3-Healing the Nobleman's Son 14:06 4 - Part 4-The Pool of Bethesda 14:21 Series title: The Sign of the Prophet Jonah: A Study of the Miracles of Jesus Christ as recorded in The Gospel According to John (To hear all twelve parts in this series, select the series title from the Group search field on the home page at www.newchurchaudio.org)

12 part series. Subtitle: Contemporary Messages on the Power of Sacred Scripture. Part 1 - Introduction to the New Church. Part 2- Do We Need a Written Revelation? (To hear all twelve parts in this series, select the series title from the Group search field on the home page at www.newchurchaudio.org)