The Voice of Hope

In this second part of “Where Does Your Loyalty Lie?”, Anthony High and Jeremy Sensenig contrast the religious leaders with the apostles in Acts 5–6. The leaders reveal misplaced loyalty by fearing people more than God while the apostles model bold obedience. This episode wrestles with the question, “How do we obey God rather than men?” as we explore the marks of a healthy, Spirit-led church and uncover practical insights for everyday faith.

How is our loyalty influenced by our fear? Part one of this episode, derived from Guide Through the Bible, Tony High and guest teacher Jeremy Sensenig explore the challenging truth in Acts 5–6. They explore how our primary loyalty shapes our integrity—and that loyalty is ultimately driven by our deepest fear. This reality is demonstrated in the sobering account of Ananias and Sapphira but also in the apostles’ bold stand before the council. This conversation wrestles with what it really means to “obey God rather than men.

Galatians 5:22-23 When I say father, what pictures form in your mind? Are they pleasant, or memories you wish you could forget? No human being, except Jesus, ever had a perfect father, and if you’re a father now, you may feel the weight of your imperfections. But don’t despair, the Bible has clear direction for you as a dad, and God’s grace is sufficient to cover your shortcomings. We find so much in the Scriptures that will equip us to experience God’s best for us in our father role. On our program today, we honor faithful fathers and call them […]

Resurrection Celebration 2025 | Selected scripture texts and songs There is a Fountain Filled With Blood – A Cappella Harmony Quartet Thank God for that fountain of cleansing, the blood of Jesus Christ! Today, we commemorate our Lord’s suffering, death, and resurrection, events that dramatically changed the course of human history. Worship with me as we spend the next few moments reflecting on this incredible demonstration of God’s love for you and me. Here are words from Isaiah, the prophet. “Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? For he shall grow […]

Mark 12:18-27 In 1993, professional golfer Paul Azinger was diagnosed with cancer. He was 33. He had just won a PGA championship and had ten tournament victories to his credit. After receiving the diagnosis, he wrote, “A genuine feeling of fear came over me. I could die from cancer. Then, another reality hit me even harder. I’m going to die eventually, whether from cancer or something else. It’s just a question of when. Everything I had accomplished in golf became meaningless to me. All I wanted to do was live.” Then he remembered what Larry Moody, who taught a Bible […]

Mark 10:46-52 Sight is one of the fantastic five senses God has given us. Some people consider it to be the greatest of the five. For those who can see, we too often take this blessing for granted. The process of sight in human development is fascinating. Newborns can only see things within 8 to 12 inches of their face and are typically colorblind. Babies are born with a preference for human faces which aids in early social interaction and bonding. By around six months, most babies can see more clearly and perceive depth, allowing them to reach for objects […]

Mark 10:1-12 Do you know the secret to a lasting marriage? I’m sure there are as many answers as opinions, and some will be right. Some would say that love is the most critical component. Do you agree? I don’t. I’ll tell you why in a few minutes. In Greek mythology, Sirens were beautiful sea nymphs who lured sailors off their intended course with their beauty and enchanting songs. Many sailors who succumbed to their charms ran their ships aground on the Siren’s island and were never heard from again. The island was littered with the wreckage of ships, broken […]

Resurrection Celebration 2024Selected TextsWe Shall Assemble/There is a RedeemerWho has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, And as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; And when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him…Stricken, Smitten, AfflictedSurely, he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement for our peace was upon him; and by his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, everyone, to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.When I Survey the Wondrous CrossAnd He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha, where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the center. Now Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.O Sacred Head Now Wounded                     Now when evening had come, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given to him. When Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb and departed.Then Came the Morning                                Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. And the guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men. But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.Awake, Awake O Earth                     Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty, and your faith is also empty. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. But now Christ is risen from the dead and has become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.Lift Your Glad Voices                         But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. For it was f...

Gospel Theology: Why is Correct Theology Important for Salvation?”II Timothy 3:10 – 4:5            A number of years ago, a strange situation developed on a farm in New Zealand. Without warning, a farmer’s cows began to get sick and die. The illness was a mystery. The farmer had never experienced anything like it before, so he called in the health inspectors. They tested the farm’s water supply and conducted other environmental tests. During the testing, even more cows got sick and died. Soon almost his entire herd of 100 cows was sick.            When the test results came back from the lab, the lead readings were off the chart. An autopsy of one of the dead cows revealed the cause. The cows had lead poisoning and the remainder of the herd was slaughtered! The farmer was baffled.            A rifle range was next to the farm. Over time, hundreds of stray bullets had landed in the adjacent farmland. They inadvertently got mixed in with the grass that was made into hay, which was then fed to the cows. The tiny pieces of lead, some too small to see with the naked eye, had poisoned the cows.            False teaching can have a similar impact on a believer that lead poisoning had on that herd of cows. Over time, exposure to wrong teaching produces wrong thoughts about the character of God and His relationship with His people. This produces carelessness in our understanding of who He is and what He expects of us as His followers. That ultimately leads to spiritual death, which is alienation from Jesus Christ.For this reason, all Christ-followers should pay careful attention to what we are being fed. If we don’t know God’s Word ourselves, we won’t be able to discern if fragments of poison are part of our regular spiritual and intellectual intake.            The importance of teaching sound theology and doctrine can’t be overstated. This is particularly important for those involved in Bible teaching or missionary work. Too many professing Christians today think that being politically correct is more important than standing up for truth, even the truth of God’s Word.            You’ve heard the old saying, “You are what you eat.” If it’s true that what we put into our bodies affects our health and well-being, how much more important is it that we are careful about what we “consume” intellectually and spiritually?            Jesus said in Luke 6:45 “The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” You and I don’t live out of what we say we believe; we live out of what we actually believe! The things we believe about God affect the choices we make in life. And Scripture makes it clear that choices determine destiny. Wrong beliefs result in wrong choices. That’s why correct belief is so important!             As part of our introduction, we need at least a brief look at the terms we’re using in our title, “Gospel Theology; Why is Correct Theology Important for Salvation?” What is the Gospel? You might answer “the Good News.” OK, but the good news about what? That I can have a better life if I accept Jesus; that I can have a personal relationship with Him; or I get to go to heaven when I die? Those things are true, but they aren’t the heart of the Gospel...

Gospel Theology: Why is Correct Theology Important for Salvation?” II Timothy 3:10 – 4:5             A number of years ago, a strange situation developed on a farm in New Zealand. Without warning, a farmer’s cows began to get sick and die. The illness was a mystery. The farmer had never experienced anything like it before, so he called in the health inspectors. They tested the farm’s water supply and conducted other environmental tests. During the testing, even more cows got sick and died. Soon almost his entire herd of 100 cows was sick.             When the test results came back […]

The Ministry of the Holy SpiritJohn 16:7-15At Heralds of Hope, Inc, we get lots of mail from people around the world. Some who write have questions about the Bible, and about living the Christian life. Some of the most frequent questions we receive are questions about the role and function of the Holy Spirit.Because this subject is so large, there’s no way we can do justice to it in one brief message. But I want to give you some principles to help you discern the proper function of the Holy Spirit. Principles to help you answer the specific questions that arise about the Holy Spirit’s role and ministry in the church today.Our text is John 16:7-15. Here, Jesus is instructing His disciples about the coming of the Comforter. The setting of this text is just prior to the crucifixion. It gives the most detailed information about the ministry of the Holy Spirit prior to Pentecost. Because He knows the coming events will be painful for the disciples, Jesus assures them His going away is necessary for the coming of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit’s coming would be the key to their doing greater works than He did.Read John 16:1-15Notice in verse seven, Jesus tells the disciples that it’s necessary for Him to go away. It is to their advantage that He go away, because, if he stays, the Holy Spirit cannot come. If He goes, He promises to send the Comforter, the intercessor, the consoler, to them. I’ve titled the message, “The Ministry of the Holy Spirit.”In our text, we observe theministry of the Holy Spirit to Christians and non-Christians. In each of these relationships, we’re given three specific FUNCTIONS of the Spirit. I make the assumption that many of you listening today are Christians, so we will spend most of our time looking at the Holy Spirit’s ministry to the redeemed. But we do want to look briefly at His ministry to unbelievers as we begin.1. The First Relationship is,To Unbelievers (vv.8-11)Notice the beginning of verse eight, “And when he is come, he will reprove the world…” Jesus had just finished warning the disciples about some of the things the “world” would do to them, in verse two. These are the ungodly, those who are part of the world’s system of doing things. All of us were part of the world. All of us were separated from God by our sin. We needed the Holy Spirit to bring us to a consciousness of our sin. This is the primary ministry of the Holy Spirit to unbelievers.Let’s look at the three ways Jesus said the Holy Spirit would bring about that conviction.A. Convince the world of sinJesus said the Holy Spirit will reprove, convict, or rebuke the world for their sin. What sin? Specifically, the sin of unbelief, according to verse 9. People refuse to acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God. That’s the sin of unbelief. In the immediate context of these verses, Jesus is referring to the Jews, but we also know this is true for the world at large; and especially for those who have heard and understood the Gospel. The Holy Spirit will convince unbelievers of the sins they’ve committed and of the guilt and condemnation that result from those sins.B. Convince the world of righteousnessJesus further stated that the Holy Spirit will reprove the world of His righteousness because He was going back to the Father. What do we make of this? The coming o...

The Coming KingdomLuke 19:11-28            There’s an old Yiddish tale that relates how “Once upon a time, Truth went about the streets as naked as the day he was born. As a result, no one would let him into their homes. Whenever people caught sight of him, they turned away and fled. One day when Truth was sadly wandering about, he came upon Parable. Parable was dressed in splendid clothes of beautiful colors. And Parable, seeing Truth, said, “Tell me, neighbor, what makes you look so sad?” Truth replied bitterly, “Ah, brother, things are bad — very bad. I’m old — very old, and no one wants to acknowledge me. No one wants anything to do with me.”            Hearing that, Parable said, “People don’t run away from you because you’re old. I’m old too — very old. But the older I get, the better people like me. I’ll tell you a secret: Everyone likes things disguised and prettied up a bit. Let me lend you some splendid clothes like mine, and you’ll see that the very people who ran away from you will invite you into their homes and be glad of your company.” Truth took Parable’s advice and put on the borrowed clothes. And from that time on, Truth and Parable have gone hand in hand. They make a happy pair.”            As you and I read the gospels we notice that Jesus told many parables. He rarely (maybe never) began teaching with scripture among the common people. It was only in the synagogue, among the scholars that he did so. Most of the time, Jesus told stories about everyday things in order to bring His message in a way that would keep His listeners attention!            And that’s what we find in our text today from Luke 19:11 to 28. Like some of the other parables recorded in Luke’s Gospel, we’re alerted to the reason for the parable before it’s given. This makes both interpretation and application simpler.            This parable relates to “The Coming Kingdom” of Christ. So let’s read our text, Luke 19:11 to 28, and then see what Jesus wants us to learn about “The Coming Kingdom.”            In this text, Jesus spells out several crucial DETAILS of His coming kingdom.The First DETAIL (of the coming kingdom) is,            Its Chronology            Every kingdom has a chronology, a timeline; either a history or a future or both. The kingdom of Jesus is no different. And our text states right up front that Jesus’ audience didn’t understand the timeline, the chronology, of His kingdom.            Verse 11 tells us He was near Jerusalem. If Jesus was born as “king of the Jews” (according to the magi in Matthew 2), it was only logical that he would inaugurate His kingdom in Jerusalem, right? And because of His nearness to the city and the events taking place, the people assumed He would set up His kingdom without delay. They saw the kingdom as imminent, near at hand. And because they were children of Abraham by birth they assumed they automatically had a place in that coming kingdom. But they were mistaken, and Jesus told this parable to challenge their assumptions.            The first thing we learn from the parable about the chronology of Jesus’ kingdom is that it will only be established in its fullness after He goes to the Father and then returns back to earth. Clearly, the nobleman represents Jesus, the far country is the presence of the Father, and the return is the second coming of...

The Graces of GivingII Corinthians 9:1-15Our Scripture portion today addresses an important subject for every follower of Jesus. It is the subject of Christian stewardship. When Jesus was on earth, He had a lot to say about money and possessions. But statistics reveal that not many churches provide regular or systematic teaching on the subject of stewardship.Why this lack of teaching? It may be because pastors don’t want to be seen as self-serving. Or it may be because unchurched people have used the worn-out excuse for not attending, “they’re always asking for money.” Or maybe, the members show by their lifestyle choices that their wants come first and if there’s anything left over, they’ll give that to God. And so, many pastors shy away from teaching stewardship. That leaves it up to para-church ministries to fill in the gap on this vital subject.Ministries that provide biblical, financial counseling give us some interesting glimpses into the finances of Christians. Statistically, 20 percent of church members do 80 percent of the giving. Of those 20 percent, only about 2 or 3 percent actually give a tithe or 10 percent of their income. It seems obvious that there’s a need today for teaching on this subject.Let us turn to II Corinthians 9:1-15 for our Scripture reading. Here is God’s Word to us.Here we discover three GRACES of giving that should be every Christian’s experience.One of the interesting things about this text is, the graces are laid out in verses six and seven, then they’re expanded in the remaining verses. Our title is, “The Graces of Giving.”The First Grace is,Give GenerouslyPaul begins this section of teaching with a very simple analogy, the law of sowing and reaping.  In Paul’s day, the seed was scattered by hand, today’s farmers use modern equipment to plant the seeds in the field, but the principle is still the same. The harvest is in direct proportion to the number of seeds planted.The word translated sparingly in our English Bibles carries the meaning of stingy. If you are stingy when you plant your seed, you will have a poor harvest. But if you sow generously, you will have a bountiful harvest. If you know anything about planting, you know that if the plants are too far apart, the weeds take advantage of that. They’ll grow and choke out the good plants, reducing the harvest. If plants are closer together, as they grow, they’ll shade out the weeds.Verses eight to eleven of our text expand on this idea of sowing generously. One of the first questions you may ask is how do I know if I’m giving generously? That is a fair question. A basic starting point is a tithe or 10 percent of my income.Some of you may protest, “that’s the law and we’re no longer under the law.” Let me remind you of something. In Genesis chapter fourteen, Abraham paid tithes long before the law was given! And think about this; under the law, the tithe was an obligation, it was required. Shouldn’t we, under grace, be able to do above what the law required? Jesus Himself taught that principle in the Sermon on the Mount. Grace was given so we could live by a higher standard than simply what the law required!We could focus our entire message on the principle of the tithe. But for the sake of time, let’s agree that the minimum tithe is ten percent. So, “how do I...

Enjoy this special Christmas program of music and selected scriptures.

Love the Truth II Thessalonians 2:8-17 What is truth? That was the question Pilate asked Jesus at His trial. How would you define truth? I once heard a definition I really like. Truth is, “Reality from God’s point of view. The title of our study today is, “Love the Truth,” and our text is Second Thessalonians 2:8 to 17. I read about a pastor who starts each confirmation class with a jar full of beans. He asks his students to guess how many beans are in the jar and writes down their estimates. Then, alongside those estimates, he helps them […]

Walking in New Life Romans 6:1-7 Most people like new things; a new dress or an item for the kitchen, a new tool, a new vehicle, or a new house. And then there are new experiences. We join a new church fellowship, or we start a new job. In marriage, we establish a new family unit, which often leads us to welcome a new baby, which leads to a new schedule, new expenses etcetera, etcetera. So, we like new things. But why? I’m sure you can think of some of the reasons: convenience, dependability, compatibility, necessity, fulfilment, pride (we don’t […]

In this sermon, we study Matthew 15:21-28 to explore the faith of the mother from Canaan, highlighting the characteristics of faith that motivates petition, demonstrates persistence, and activates provision. The text encourages mothers to follow this biblical example of motherhood by trusting Jesus completely and petitioning the Lord for their children’s needs. Transcript: I’m glad our country still has a national day to recognize the value of motherhood. The apostle Paul said in Titus 2:5 that mothers are to be “homemakers.” So, what we call “stay at home moms” were God’s idea. At Heralds of Hope we believe the Bible […]

Betraying the Son of ManLuke 22:47-62No treachery is worse than betrayal by a family member or friend. Julius Caesar knew such treachery. Among the conspirators who assassinated him was Marcus Junius Brutus. Caesar not only trusted Brutus, but he had also actually favored him as a son. Roman historians tell us that, at first, Caesar resisted the onslaught of the assassins. But when he saw Brutus among them with a dagger in his hand, Caesar stopped struggling and, pulling the top part of his robe over his face, he asked the famous question, “Even you, Brutus?”Shakespeare’s well-known line is still used today to express shock at the betrayal by a friend. If you’ve ever experienced that kind of betrayal, it is heartbreaking. The one you thought loved and supported you, turns on you in your time of greatest need. Sometimes we’re deceived into thinking we’re the only ones who’ve ever experienced this kind of trauma. But it’s not true.In Luke chapter 22, we come to the scenes of Jesus’ betrayal and arrest. He has just concluded His agonized wrestling with drinking the cup of God’s wrath against our sin. It has been a physically, spiritually, and emotionally draining experience, but He is committed to doing His Father’s will. What happens next, though not unexpected must have hurt very deeply.Let’s read about those events in Luke 22, verses 47 to 62.This text reveals to us several VARIATIONS on the theme of “Betraying the Son of Man.” Sadly, we will see ourselves in these variations.The First VARIATION (on betraying the Son of Man) isInsincere AffectionOur text tells us that Judas enters the garden and draws near to where Jesus and the eleven disciples are gathered. He is at the head of a large group of people. Jesus is still urging the disciples to pray against temptation even as Judas arrives. Notice, the text specifically mentions Judas as one of the Twelve. Luke also points this out in verse 3 of this chapter. The double reference emphasizes the horror of this act; first, it marks Judas’ intention to betray Jesus, and now it marks the act being carried out.Judas had a prearranged signal between him and the authorities. He began to kiss Jesus; not just once on each cheek like the typical eastern greeting, but to kiss Him profusely. Most likely, Judas wanted no mistakes about who was the target of this arrest.But Jesus confronts Judas; “…with a kiss do you betray?” The very act of love, friendship, and mutual trust is turned into treachery by Judas. It seems Jesus is making one last appeal to Judas’ conscience; but sadly, his conscience is seared beyond feeling. His disillusionment and greed have turned his heart to stone.Judas’ betrayal of Jesus was a very open act. It signified a conscious choice he made at some point; at least by the time he agreed with the religious leaders and received the payment for his services. Although we don’t know all the events that brought Judas to this point of action, he was certainly conscious of the insincere affection he now lavished on Jesus.But what about you and me; are we ever guilty of betraying Jesus through insincere affection? Most of us would quickly deny betraying Him. I know – He’s not here physically, but what about those who are part of His body, the church? If you injure my body, you injure me, right? Have we ever offered someone a handshake and a smile while inside we detested them, and couldn’t wait to share their failures with someone?What about First John 4:20 and 21? “If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can...

I Samuel 17:57-18:4 As human beings, relationships with other people are an integral part of our lives. Outside our family, you and I refer to these relationships as “friends.” In our modern usage of the word, a friend can denote someone who is merely a passing acquaintance whose company you enjoy. It can refer to someone you have contact with on social media, even though you really don’t know them very well. Or it can be used of someone in whom you would confide your deepest secrets. You’ve heard the saying; “A friend in need is a friend indeed.” In […]

Men as Fathers IIEphesians 6:4The Discipline of ChildrenIn previous studies, I’ve quoted from Richard Phillips’ book, “The Masculine Mandate.” In his chapter on the discipline of children, he points out that many of the great men of the Bible, men like Jacob, David, Eli, Samuel, Jehoshaphat, and Hezekiah, all had sons who were rapists, murderers, gluttons, child-sacrificing idol worshipers, and insurrectionists. Then he asks, “What is going on with these sons of heroes?”Obviously, there’s more than one reason for the failures in the lives of these sons, but one of them must be the lack of time father spent with his sons. After all, great and powerful men, like kings, prophets, and priests, have a lot to do. They feel they don’t have time to spend winning the hearts of their children. As a result, the sons of those who are important, rich, and famous, often grow older without growing up – they remain spoiled children!The Bible makes significant statements about most of the men I listed earlier. Eli preferred the meat which his sons stole from the offerings, with the fat still on it, even though God prohibited it. How could he discipline them when he refused to discipline himself? Samuel’s sons were greedy, took bribes, and perverted judgment leading to Israel’s ill-advised hankering for a king.And David, the man after God’s own heart, had horrible things happening in his family. How could it be that such a great Bible hero could have such a messed-up family? Well, listen to First Kings 1:6. Speaking of David’s son, Adonijah, here’s what it says; “And his father had never at any time displeased him by asking, why have you done this?” Never, at any time had David exercised discipline in Adonijah’s life! What a prescription for ruin. I am so grateful for my dad who disciplined me when I needed it. I don’t know where I’d be today without that.Reflecting on the failures of these godly men forces us to acknowledge the same kinds of failures are with us today. Many fathers, even some pastors, invest so much time in their work that their children suffer. They are forgetting the second part of the biblical mandate – to keep, to guard, to protect. This keeping is accomplished through the loving discipline of the father.Think about guarding and protecting your children. What is the greatest danger they face? Is it physical, like a car accident or an assault by a violent student in school? No, the greatest threat our children face isn’t physical; it is not from the outside, it is from the inside. The power of sin at work in their own hearts is the greatest of all dangers. Ted Tripp is the author of the book, “Shepherding a Child’s Heart.” He writes, “There are things in the heart of the sweetest little baby that, allowed to blossom and grow to fruition, will bring about eventual destruction.” He’s right.It all comes down to the heart. We are born with a “bent” toward sin. Our heart, with its desires, poses a threat all by itself. All the sinful things around us, the external things, are a threat only because they appeal to the internal heart problem. If we deal with the internal problem, we decrease the appeal of the external sin. As part of our mandate to keep the hearts of our children, and to direct them to Christ, we must teach them how to curb the sinful cravings of their own heart. Ultimately, this can only be done successfully when the child yields his or her heart to Christ. But we get them started on that path from infancy by exercising proper, biblical discipline.  Ephesians 6:1 states, “Children obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.”  Obedience speaks of being under authority. God’s Word is the basisfor our understanding that children must learn to obey their parents. God said o...

“Men as Fathers”Ephesians 6:4In a courtroom, many years ago, a young man was being sentenced to prison. The judge had known the young man from childhood, and he was also acquainted with his father, a famous legal scholar who had authored an exhaustive study titled, “The Law of Trusts.”“Do you remember your father?” the magistrate asked. “I remember him well, your honor.” Trying to probe the offender’s conscience, the judge said, “As you are about to be sentenced and as you think of your wonderful dad, what do you remember most clearly about him?”After a pause, the young man said. “Well, I remember when I went to him for advice. He looked up at me from the book he was writing and said, ‘Run along, boy; I’m busy!’ When I went to him for companionship, he turned me away, saying ‘Run along, son; this book must be finished!’ Your honor, you remember him as a great lawyer. I remember him as a lost friend.” Hearing this, the judge muttered to himself, “Alas! He finished the book, but he lost the boy!”You and I grieve over the tragedy of that broken relationship between father and son. But let’s not rush to judgment. After all, “How many of us have said similar words to our children, the only difference being, we weren’t writing a book?” The degeneracy of our culture is a daily reminder that this ineffective kind of fathering has been, perhaps, the most common method in recent decades.As a result, many young fathers, even Christian fathers, are unsure about what their role is. If you’re a pastor or community leader and a young father comes to you for advice, what would you tell him? In our community, we have a state funded Center for Families that runs something called the “Fatherhood Initiative.” There’s probably something similar where you live. Would you send a young father there?I will, as the saying goes, “lay all my cards on the table” right here at the beginning. Any organization or group that proposes to help fathers understand their role but is either forbidden by law to use the Bible as a guide, or simply ignores the biblical principles of fatherhood, will not have a lasting impact. If you or I or anyone else really wants to help men understand and fulfill their role as fathers, there is only one primary source-book – the Word of God.The conviction that the Word of God is the primary source of wisdom and training for fathers leads us back to the principle we’ve noted several times in the past few weeks; the dual responsibilities given to men in Genesis 2:15, to “work and to keep.” Today, we will begin to examine how these two basic commands provide a foundation upon which to develop our understanding and practice of “Men as Fathers.”As we begin, I will read several selected verses of Scripture which a have direct bearing on the topic we are addressing. I invite you to listen as I read.Genesis 2:7-9, 15; Proverbs 23:26; Ephesians 6:4These Scriptures and others remind us that the main responsibilities of working and keeping are fulfilled in the PROCESSES of fathering – they are, discipling and discipline.The First PROCESS is,The Discipling of ChildrenThere is a fairly common lament among fathers today that goes something like this. “Pastor, I have a problem. I just found out that my sixteen-year-old son is hanging out with friends I disapprove of, and I think he’s using drugs. I have no idea how this could happen.I spent a lot of money to send him to Christian school, our family was always in church on Sunday morning, and we faithfully sent the children to VBS. My wife and I monitored his friends, to make sure they came from good families, and we tried to screen the TV shows he watched. We even spanked him when he was little. Where did we go wrong?” I would say that the problem...

Colossians 4:7-18 In the fifteenth century, in a tiny village near Nuremberg, Germany, was a family with 18 children. The father was a goldsmith and worked almost many hours a day at his trade and then at any other paying chore he could find in the neighborhood to provide for his large family. Despite their seemingly hopeless economic condition, two of the children had a dream. They both wanted to pursue their talent for art but knew their father could never afford to send either of them to Nuremberg to study at the Academy. But the boys finally worked out a plan. They would toss a coin. The loser would go into the nearby mines and, with his earnings, support his brother while he attended the academy. Then, when the first brother completed his studies, he would support the other brother in his studies. Albrecht won the coin toss. He went off to Nuremberg while Albert went into the mines. For the next four years, Albert financed his brother, whose work was an immediate sensation. When Albrecht graduated, he was already earning large fees for his commissioned works. When Albrecht returned to his village, the family held a festive dinner in his honor. After the meal, Albrecht said, “And now, Albert, blessed brother of mine, it is your turn. Now you can go to Nuremberg to pursue your dream, and I will take care of you.” Albert rose and said softly, “No, I cannot go to Nuremberg. Look what four years in the mines have done to my hands! The bones in every finger have been smashed at least once, and lately I have been suffering from arthritis so badly in my right hand that I cannot make delicate lines with a pen or a brush. No, brother, for me it is too late.” More than 500 years have passed since then. Albrecht Durer has hundreds of masterful portraits hanging in every great museum in the world, but you, like most people, may be familiar with only one of them. To pay homage to Albert for all he had sacrificed, Albrecht Durer drew his brother’s hands with palms together and fingers stretched skyward. He called his powerful drawing simply “Hands,” but the world has renamed his tribute of love “The Praying Hands.” What an amazing tribute to true brotherhood, a love that is willing to do whatever is required to see another person succeed. How much more should we be willing to sacrifice for eternal rewards? With this message, we’ve arrived at the end of our study in the book of Colossians. A casual reading of the final verses of chapter four may seem to be some random messages of thanks to some of Paul’s associates. But that conclusion overlooks some very important truth. And so, I invite you to join me in taking a closer look at verses 7 through 18 of Colossians chapter four. We will explore the central message of this text under the title, “A Band of Brothers.” Listen now as I read Colossians 4:7 to 18. This text illustrates how embracing the preeminence of Christ results in the CHARACTERISTICS that define a band of brothers (and that includes sisters too). As I noted multiple times in this series, the preeminence of Christ, the superiority of Christ, is the central theme of this epistle. The final verses of this letter are an example of how the embrace of this truth impacts our relationships with our fellow Believers. The First CHARACTERISTIC (that defines a band of brothers) is, Mutual Love Paul begins by introducing us to Tychicus (Titchi-cus). His name means “fortunate”, and his gift appears to be exhortation or encouragement. Paul refers to him as a “beloved brother.” He’s first mentioned in Acts 20 among a group traveling with Paul through Asia Minor. In Ephesians 6:21 he is acknowledged as the bearer of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. Finally, we see him in II Timothy 4:12, still serving the aged apostle in the final days befo...

Colossians 4:2-6 How important are words in our human experience? Is that a foolish question? Think about it. God spoke words to create the world and He used words to communicate with the beings He created in His image. Because we are made in God’s image we too can communicate with words. And God referred to His Son, Jesus, as the Word, the logos. This Word, Jesus, was sent to us to show us the person of God the Father. John says, “the Word became flesh and lived among us.” I conclude that words are important to God. I like words! I enjoy games with words, like Scrabble and Boggle, crossword puzzles, and word scrambles. As a reader, a writer, and a pastor/teacher, I interact with words and use words all the time. Words allow me to express my thoughts in a way that others can understand. If I see they’re not understanding, I can rephrase the sentence using different words, or give more explanation of the words I’m using. We all use words to convey thoughts, ideas, desires, intentions, and more. Think about how much is lost if you can’t communicate with words. You can act out simple desires like wanting to eat or needing to sleep, you can even communicate your emotions through facial expression, tears, posture, etc. Sign language is very helpful for people who can’t hear, but it still isn’t the same because you can’t hear tone, inflection, and the other variables in speech.   Most likely you’ve heard the saying, “communication is an art.” I think that’s a good description. Words are just one part of communication, but they’re an important part. Simple words can be like a child drawing stick figures. By a few simple lines we can determine whether the figure is a man or woman, a child, or a pet, but there’s very little detail. As one develops a larger vocabulary and begins to understand the importance of context, it’s like an artist adding details to the canvas on her easel. The painting presents a fuller, richer, more detailed picture than the stick figure drawing. As we continue our journey through Paul’s letter to the Colossians, we’ve come to chapter four and verses 2 through 6. While this is just a short text, it is a rich one that opens to us another facet of how the preeminence of Christ affects the way we as Christ-followers should live. If we believe, as Paul so clearly teaches in this letter to the Colossians, that Jesus is preeminent, that He is first in power, rank, position, and that He is supreme over everyone and everything, then, we will understand the necessity of telling others this important truth. To tell others this message we need words. And we need words that others can understand. So, I’ve titled our study “Getting the Word Heard.”   As we begin our study listen to Paul’s words from Colossians 4:2 to 6. This text contains several ELEMENTS we must consider if we want to be effective in “Getting the Word Heard.” The First Element is, Communion Immediately, you may think I’m talking about the Lord’s Table and the commemoration of Jesus’ sacrifice. You may think of unleavened bread and grape juice representing the body and blood of the Lord Jesus. But that’s not how I’m using this word in this context.             Instead, by using the word communion, I’m referring to having fellowship with God in prayer. We know God desires communion with us. He desired it so much that He went looking for Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden after they had sinned. He came looking for them “in the cool of the day.” That suggests this was a time when they previously enjoyed fellowship together. Paul instructs the Colossian Believers to continue in prayer, communing with God. Some Bible translations add the word steadfastly or earnestly because that idea is contained in the original wording. So, this isn’t just a brief prayer before a meal or a...

Colossians 3:18-4:1 Have you ever asked yourself why you do things the way you do? You and I have predictable responses to certain experiences we face in life. This doesn’t mean our response isn’t genuine, it just means it’s customary, even reflexive. For example, I have friend who was raised in the southern part of the United States. Whenever I converse with him, if I ask him a question, his initial response is always “yes, sir” or “no, sir.” That’s not something I do, so, why does he do that? He does it because he was raised in a time and place that showed respect or deference to those older than himself. I very much doubt that he consciously thinks about it before he responds, it’s just part of who he is. In this case, it’s at least partly the culture he grew up in that shaped his responses. And all cultures have things that are unique to them, especially in the way members of that culture relate to each other. But the question remains, where do those ideas and practices come from? Though many people today would try to deny it, the best foundational principles of human relationships are given to us in Holy Scripture.  There are a couple of terms that we hear occasionally as we talk about human behavior. One of them is something called the “social contract.” This theory says that people live together in society in accordance with an agreement that establishes moral and political rules of behavior. In other words, members of a society cooperate for the good of everyone involved. There is “give and take.” This is seen through both written laws and unspoken rules of behavior. And every functioning society has these rules to live by.   This social contract theory grew out of two historical philosophical movements, the Renaissance and the Enlightenment. The first movement rejected divine revelation and promoted the idea that humans are basically good and with proper education can lead an ethical life apart from God. The second movement, the Enlightenment, was a logical outgrowth of the previous one. It was centered around the idea that human reason is the primary source of authority and legitimacy. It elevated individualism, skepticism, and science. It promoted the idea that science and logic would give people more knowledge and understanding than either tradition or religion. Maybe you’re wondering why I’m taking the time to talk about these philosophical movements. I’m doing it because we’re seeing the impact of these philosophies today, even though they were birthed hundreds of years ago. They may be old, but they are still exerting a huge influence on our world today.   These ideas have led to the second term I want to mention, “social construct.” The original understanding of a social construct is something that doesn’t exist in objective reality but is formed as a result of human interaction. It exists because humans agree that it exists. For example, in my country we have the idea that pink is the color for baby girls and blue is the color for baby boys; that’s a social construct. There’s nothing objective about that. Somewhere along the line it was a custom that became established. But today, some people are saying that our biological sex, decided in the womb, is a social construct. That’s why they use the word, gender. Boys are boys and girls are girls only because we say so. They tell us that a biological male can choose to be a female and vice versa. And if someone doesn’t want to be a boy or girl, there’s a plethora of other options available. They propose that each person gets to choose what his or her gender is. Christ-followers know that premise is false – because God created male and female in humans and in the animal kingdom. Furthermore, human beings, male and female, are made in God’s image. In our continuing study in the book of Colossians, we’ve come to the apostle Paul’s teaching on human relationships. I’ve titl...

Leviticus 9:22-10:7

Ephesians 2:1-10

Colossians 3:1-7

Colossians 3:1-7

Colossians 2:16-23

Colossians 2:8-15

Colossians 2:8-15

Galatians 5:22-23 When you hear the word, “father,” what pictures form in your mind? Are they pleasant scenes, or scenes you wish you could forget? No human being ever had a perfect father. Nor can we, who are fathers now, perfectly relate to our children because we are marred by sin. But don’t despair, the Bible has clear direction for Dads. In both example and precept, we find so much in the Scriptures that will equip us to experience God’s best for us in our role as fathers. On our program today we honor faithful fathers, and we call them to a greater degree of faithfulness, to God, to His Word, to their families and to their churches. We believe that a return to a biblical understanding of fatherhood is the surest path to a revival of Christian belief and practice. Even though Father’s Day is next weekend, we pray God will use this program to help you prepare to commemorate this special day.

Colossians 2:1-7 If you have ALL of something, how much is left over for others? In our text for this edition of The Voice of Hope, Paul writes that “ALL the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ!” Really? All of them? Join Pastor J. Mark as he continues our study from Colossians 2:1-7 under the title “God’s Treasure Chest – Part 2.” Together, we’ll learn how to access the treasures of full knowledge and growing stability – and to do it with a grateful heart!

Colossians 2:1-7 Several years ago, a couple in California stumbled across a rare treasure: more than 1,000 gold coins buried in the shadow of an old tree. The coins were dated from 1847 to 1894, and were in uncirculated, mint condition. Several of the coins were so rare they were valued at a million dollars each! Wouldn’t it be exciting to find a treasure like that? Well, on the upcoming edition of The Voice of Hope, Pastor J. Mark shares something even more exciting from our study in Colossians. We invite you to tune in and join in the discovery of “God’s Treasure Chest.”

Last time on The Voice of Hope, we were discovering the processes by which we can understand the mystery of Christ in us. The first process was reconciliation. This is the process, initiated by God, which enables us to be restored to a right relationship with Him. And then, second, we began looking at the process of sanctification. This is the process of becoming in practice what we already are in position, that is, we live a holy life out of Christ’s holy presence in us. Today, Pastor J. Mark will conclude this study with more teaching on the process of sanctification and then the final process of glorification. So plan to join us and be blessed!

Do you like mysteries? Do you enjoy trying to unravel enigmas? If you do, then you’ll want to be sure to join us for this weekend’s edition of The Voice of Hope. Pastor J. Mark’s teaching is taken from Colossians 1:21 to 29 and is titled, “The Mystery of Christ in You.” We are sure you’ll be inspired as he shares the several processes by which we can understand this mystery and its impact on our lives. So tune in, and after you listen, let us know what you think!

Last time, on The Voice of Hope, we were studying Colossians 1:15 to 20, “The Preeminent Christ – Pt. 1.” In this portion of Scripture Paul produces several proofs that confirm the preeminence of Christ. The first proof we discovered is “His relationship to deity.” Jesus is the express image or the mirror image of the invisible God! The second proof of Jesus’ deity is “His relationship to creation.” Paul goes on to say that Jesus is the firstborn over all creation. This fact gives Him both priority and sovereignty over all that is created. There is one more proof of Christ’s preeminence revealed in this text. So, join Pastor J. Mark as he explains the final proof of Christ’s preeminence along with its practical applications.

Our world is filled with deception. Unscrupulous people prey on our ignorance or carelessness to cheat us out of our money or possessions. But what if I’m deceived about what truth is? What if I believe things about myself, and about the world that inaccurate? What if my beliefs about God and Jesus are faulty? What are the consequences of that? In Colossians 1:15-20, Paul emphatically and repeatedly proclaims Christ as preeminent. That means He is supreme over everything and everyone. To prove his assertion, Paul emphasizes Christ’s relationship to three specific things. In order to learn what those specific proofs are, keep listening as Pastor J. Mark shares his teaching on “The Preeminent Christ.”

Are you thankful to God for the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ! We are; and on this program we invite you to join us as we commemorate our Lord’s suffering and death, and as we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead! Yes, we do know that Resurrection Sunday was April 4th, but every Sunday is a reminder of that momentous event! And what Jesus accomplished for us through His death, burial, and resurrection has an ongoing impact on our lives every day. So, worship with us as we spend the next half hour reflecting on this incredible demonstration of God’s love for you and me.

Forgiveness is an amazing reality! It brings incredible freedom. No matter where we’ve been or what we’ve done, not one of us is outside the reach of God’s forgiveness in Jesus. Sometimes, that fact is hard for us to accept. When Jesus uttered His cry from the cross, “Father, forgive them for they don’t know what they’re doing,” your name and mine were included in that request! So were the names of Osama Bin Laden, Bashir al Assad, Narendra Modi, and Xi Jinping. Join Pastor J. Mark for this second part of his teaching, “Father, Forgive Them,” as he discusses the final two ACTIONS relating to God’s provision for our forgiveness, and our response to that provision.

The events during the week of our Lord’s Passion move quickly. In just a few days we go from the horror of the crucifixion to the ecstasy of the resurrection. Rather than compress these events into one short program, we will continue our multi-program journey through these history making events. Join Pastor J. Mark as he looks at the cross with a two-part message titled, “Father Forgive Them.” Learn why the purpose of the cross is to repair the irreparable. Visualize the cross as a symbol of suffering and death, but also a symbol of life.

A woman went to her pastor and said, “I’ve been a Christian for 20 years. I’ve read books on how to win souls. I’ve memorized Scripture. I’ve taken courses on how to win the lost. And yet I haven’t won one person to the Lord. Why?” The pastor’s answer surprised her. He said, “It is because your eyes are dry.” Then he went on to explain: “You haven’t failed for want of knowledge, but for lack of love. When you really love someone’s soul, you will care enough to weep for them.” Jesus cared enough to weep. Join Pastor J. Mark as he continues the study from Luke 19, “Don’t Miss Your Moment – Part 2.” We’ll talk about Jesus’ weeping over Jerusalem and how He might respond to the disobedience of His followers today. Together, we’ll learn how to perceive the kingdom’s peace and embrace prayer as Jesus’ passion.

Have you ever missed an important moment in your life because you were expecting something different than what actually happened? The people of Jesus’ day were no different; because they didn’t believe His words, they missed out on being part of His kingdom. Missing their moment had tragic, eternal consequences. Pastor J. Mark’s teaching today is from Luke’s gospel and is titled, “Don’t Miss Your Moment.” As we enter the Easter season, we will spend the next few programs focusing on this history changing event. We hope you can join us.

On this week’s edition of The Voice of Hope, we are continuing our study from Colossians 1:9 to 14. Our study is titled, “Fruitful in Every Good Work.” We will look at two more areas of growth in FRUITFULNESS that will develop in our lives as we focus on Jesus and His redemptive work. They are: growth in endurance, and growth in gratefulness. Join Pastor J. Mark to learn how you too can become more fruitful for God’s glory!

I’ve met a lot of people in my lifetime, in North America and in other parts of the world. And most, if not all of them, want their life to have an impact, to make a difference. I believe that’s your desire too. If it is, I invite you to join me as we continue our study in the book of Colossians. As we look into God’s Word together I hope to show you how your life can make an impact, not just for today, but for eternity. Our study is titled “Fruitful in Every Good Work.”

Colossians 1:1-8Legendary preacher, Charles Spurgeon told a story about two men in a boat on a river. They were caught in severe rapids. And they were heading toward even worse rapids ending in a waterfall. There was really no way they’d survive if they hit those rapids. The men realized their predicament and began to struggle for their lives.As they were carried swiftly downstream toward the perilous rocks and the falls, some men on the shore saw them and they threw a rope out to them. By this time, the boat had capsized, and the men were struggling in the raging current.Spurgeon went on to say that one man caught the rope and was pulled to shore. The other man, in a moment of panic, made a fatal mistake; he grabbed hold of a log that was floating by. One man was drawn to the shore because he had a connection with the people on the land. The other man clinging to the log was carried down the rapids, over the falls, and was never seen again.The lives of those men from that moment were defined by their choices. Both men grabbed hold of something. The object of one man’s grasp was anchored to something solid; the object of the other man’s grasp was at the mercy of the current. One man’s choice led to life; the other man’s choice led to death.Many people today are just like those two men. They’re adrift on the raging river of life, their boat is out of control. They’ve been offered a lifeline in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Some will seize the opportunity for life, others will grab one of the “floating logs” the world offers and will ultimately perish.Today, we begin a study in the New Testament book of Colossians. In the opening of this letter, written by the apostle Paul, we’ll learn how a group of people in Colossae responded to the choice that was offered to them and how it impacted their lives.But before we get to that it is important that I give you some introduction to the book.If you were to look at a map of the ancient world, you would find Colossae in an area called Phrygia in Asia Minor. Today, its ruins lie in southwestern Turkey. It was about 15 kilometers (9 miles) south of Laodicea, home of one of the famous seven churches from the book of Revelation. Colossians 4:16 states that this letter is also to be read in Laodicea.Colossae was known for its syncretism, that is, its mixture of varied religious influences: Jewish, Gnostic, and pagan. Knowing this helps us understand better Paul’s concerns for the church as they’re expressed in this letter. Gnosticism was a religious system that elevated personal spiritual knowledge over biblical orthodoxy, as well as over church tradition and authority. One of the basic tenets of Gnosticism was the belief that physical matter is evil. As a result many Gnostic texts don’t deal with the concepts of sin and repentance, but with illusion and enlightenment.1Since Gnostics believed that matter is evil, they tended toward two extremes. One group was licentious, their motto was “if it feels good, do it.” The other group was ascetic and concluded that because matter was evil only the basic things necessary for survival should be used. But both groups saw themselves as superior to the uninitiated who didn’t embrace their beliefs.Add to this mix the Jewish believers who were trying to incorporate things from the Mosaic law as being necessary for salvation. And behind all this is a first-generation church made up of people primarily from pagan backgrounds with their experience and inclinations.Most scholars believe this letter was written around AD 60 during Paul’s first imprisonment. Timothy is included as a writer. Perhaps he did the actual writing as Paul dictated.The content of the letter seems to be aimed at refuting Judaistic tendencies, feast days, circumcision, food regulations, etc. However, we’ll notice in our study that Paul doesn’t argue against each of thes...

We’ve come to the final message of our study from the book of James. It’s been an intensely practical study, giving us a lot to work on as we live out a “Faith That Works.” I remind you again, that nowhere in this epistle does James suggest that we earn our salvation by the things we do. However, he does argue, if our salvation is genuine, then we will think differently, act differently, and look differently than the unbelievers. And, he gives clear instruction on how that can be done.