Just Us with DRJ

In this month's episode we take a look at chapters 7 - 9 of the Gospel According to John. The title of this episode draws upon a few of the recurring themes from these chapters, but is also an accurate description of JESUS. In these times where many masquerade as followers of Jesus, but seemingly have no idea who He is, we look back at the people who knew the law of Moses, who knew where Jesus came from and who his family was and managed to still have NO IDEA who He is. If you don't know Him, then take a listen to hear all about the One who can restore your sight and be your Light.

In this month's episode we look at John 4-6. We learn more about Jesus' early ministry, seeing how he connected with people, and witness His next two signs (miracles), the healing of the paralyzed man and the feeding of the 5,000. In addition to meeting a Samaritan woman, a royal official and a host of followers, Jesus found some enemies without and within.got water? got bread? got JESUS?

Welcome to Just Us with DRJ Season 2!! We begin with the first three chapters of the Gospel According to John, where we are introduced to Jesus by the one who prepared the way for Him. Jesus, the Word of God, begins his ministry, performs his first miracle (sign), flips some tables and is questioned by the Pharisees. Will this son of a carpenter from Nazareth amount to anything? Be sure to 'Like' and 'Subscribe' on Spotify AND @DRJ-JUSTUS on YouTube to STAY TUNED....

Season 2 will focus on the writings of the Apostle John. This preface to the Gospel According to John serves as a trailer of sorts to what to expect in the first episode of the new season and the rest of Season 2.

This is a trailer for the first season of Just Us with DRJ that just wrapped in January 2026 with special shout-out to Kayquarii Studios and Bro. Julian Davis Reid for helping bring this to FRUIT-tion!!

Welcome to Just Us with DRJ's inaugural episode, which was recorded BEFORE the inauguration in 2025, but looks ahead to the roughness that Donald F. Trump's second presidency is likely to bring to the United States of America. Even more worrisome is the fact that many who name the name of Christ find nothing wrong with electing such a man to office. Spending time in God's Word will allow us to see and know His heart so that our thoughts, actions and votes reflect His character and we can look more like the God who sees us.

So very thankful to be joined by my first remote guest, Rev. Dr. James Bailey, the pastor of St. Stephen A.M.E. Church and a dear friend. This episode is also meaningful because it is the final episode of the first season of Just Us. We have a conversation about the final fruit of the Spirit, FAITH, the one without which it is impossible to please God. We pray that you will find a Word to uplift our downcast condition and provide a blessing when our situation makes us want to curse.We think on Hebrews 11, take one more look at Jeremiah 8 and share a few other passages to help us make it through even when our eyes tell us that we cannot.

Just like puberty, the time when young people undergo hormonal changes that lead to physical growth, Christian growth can be awkward. The process of Christian growth is usually not linear and our progress often in question due to failures and missteps. This week's lesson demonstrates that Jesus knows our nature and offers opportunity for restoration, even (or especially) when we fall. Disciple Peter picked a peck of imperfect people despite his own personal imperfections and ALL have access to the Prince of Peace who provides the proprietary path to PERFECTION!!!

This week's lesson is entitled, "Prayer". As we often say in black churches, it is ALWAYS time for prayer, and as our situation in this nation becomes increasingly dire, it is certainly no less true. We look at Scripture passages from Genesis, Luke and 1 John to inform our view of approaching God in prayer. How do YOU approach our omnipotent God, with boldness, overconfidence, humility or some combination of those qualities?

If we learned anything about sin from the previous lesson, it is that we are in need of forgiveness. This week's lesson, "Repentance and Faith", helps us figure out what is necessary to get there.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!The first lesson of this new year is entitled "Sin". The focus Scriptures come from 1 John. We are reminded that those of us who are of God should look like God -- that is, we should be children of light and not darkness, truth and not falsehood knowing that to be anything else lives a life unworthy of Christ's sacrifice to bring us closer to God.May this new year bring us ever closer to God as we try to look more like our Father.

This week's lesson not only concludes the three lessons on the Trinity -- God our Heavenly Father, Christ our Savior and the Holy Spirit, but it also concludes the Sunday School lessons for 2025. We usually find a lot of things to reflect on at this time of year. This week's lesson asks us to look at our adoption into God's family, something that will require us to look at our thoughts and actions over this past year, as we move into the year ahead. Now is a great time to ask the Holy Spirit to help us leave behind the things that are not bringing us closer to God and focus on being the children that our Father would have us be.Wishing you all a blessed and prosperous 2026!!!

In this Christmas episode we are reminded to choose JOY, despite the chaos that surrounds us. Scripture tells us that we should count our trials as joy because it produces a work in us that helps mature and complete us. Wishing you a MERRY CHRISTMAS and a Kwanzaa to astound ya with its Nguzo Saba!!!

As Christmas quickly approaches, we have a lesson that reminds us what it is all about, JESUS, our Shepherd and Savior. We see that the Heavenly Father's plan for redemption was masterfully executed in the birth, life, example and death of Jesus Christ. This lesson reminds us not only of the Gift, but of the responsibility that comes with being recipients of that Gift. We are responsible for sharing that Wonderful Gift with others. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!

This week's lesson is from Matthew 6: 24-34 and it reminds us to look to our Heavenly Father for our needs. We should not be distracted by our situation, our haters or seduced by our desires into believing that God does not provide everything we need.

This lesson, entitled "The Holy Scriptures", marks the second Sunday of Advent and the start of a new quarter. Dive in to experience the richness of God's ever-prescient, ever-relevant and everlasting Word.

In this week's lesson we study the vision that Ezekiel received where a river of living water flowed from the temple or House of God. What is the significance for us that these waters flowed from Israel to all other nations? Are our respective houses of worship providing living water for those who are parched and thirsty for relief?This is the final lesson from this current book, "Judah, From Isaiah To Exile".

This week's lesson again features Ezekiel having to be a messenger for the Lord. Instead of being the object lesson, God charges Ezekiel to serve as the sentinel (watchman) for Israel's turn to spiritual wickedness, encouraging them to return to righteousness. Ezekiel reminds us that righteous and wicked must repent to be made right with God.

This week's lesson is entitled, "The Story of Ezekiel". The lesson text is drawn from the book of Ezekiel. As always, I encourage you to read it for yourselves. What we see in this lesson is an atypical reaction to a devastating loss. The Lord again tries to deliver an important message to Israel via one of his prophets. What does the Lord have to do to reach you?

Mrs. DRJ joins us in this week's Sunday School lesson entitled, "Judah Taken Captive". What are the roles and responsibilities of our leaders? Although it is usually the citizens of a nation that suffer from poor leadership, there are times when the leadership too has to answer for not upholding their responsibilities. In the case of Judah, honoring God was a clear responsibility to be demonstrated by their king.

During this episode we discuss something that is hard to come by these days, PEACE. What did Jesus say about peacemakers? Do your circumstances determine your peace? Does God bless mess?

This week's lesson comes from Jeremiah 20: 1-6; 37:1 - 38:28; 43: 1-7 and is entitled, "Later Experiences of Jeremiah". The life of a prophet is not an easy one and we find Jeremiah's opposition again trying to end his life -- this time by drowning. They would have succeeded if it were not for a eunuch. Hear how the Lord can use one person to save a life.

This week's Sunday School lesson is entitled, "God's Law In The Heart". Together we explore God's new covenant with us and how it differs greatly from His previous covenants with the children of Israel. Open hearts and minds are a must for this lesson.

This week's lesson is entitled, "The Story of the Rechabites". Jeremiah has a divinely-instructed interaction with the Rechabites (or Kenites), who were of the children of Israel, in order to observe their obedience to their ancestor. What could Judah learn from the Rechabites example?

This week's lesson entitled, "Jeremiah Calls The People to Obedience". The lesson Scripture is found in Jeremiah 7. As always, I encourage reading the passage in its entirety to get a more complete understanding of the text.If you have not found a Sunday School to be a part of, I encourage you to find one, especially for this week's lesson. :)

This week's lesson is entitled, "The Early Ministry of Jeremiah". Join us to hear what God thinks of young people in ministry. It may surprise you when He placed His calling in your life. Remember, that God equips those He calls.

Mr. and Mrs. DRJ share this Sunday's church school lesson entitled, "The Suffering Servant of the Lord". The lesson Scripture is found in Isaiah 52:13 through 53:12.

The Sunday School lesson is entitled, "What Hilkiah Found in the Temple". The lesson and focus Scriptures come from 2 Chronicles 34. I will be doing the readings weekly for those looking to spend more time in the study of God's word. It is my hope that you have a church family to fully engage in the Sunday church school experience.

In this month's episode we look at the fruit of patience from both the Old and New Testaments, hoping to have it help us shape our future.

In the July episode of Just Us With DRJ we continue our tasting tour of the Fruits of the Spirit with GENEROSITY, exploring not just what generosity looks like, but what is truly at its (and our) core. 2 Corinthians 8 and 9 are the Scripture pairing for this tasting menu.

The June episode of JustUs is an opportunity for us to consider biblical wisdom regarding the fruit of Kindness, as we continue our look at the fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5. The focal Scripture for this week is Zechariah 7: 9-10.

Continuing our look at the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5: 22-25), this month's episode focuses on cultivating the spiritual fruit of Self-Control . It also engages us in a reflection on why exercising self-control is as important for us as it is for those around us. Episode #4 is your mission, should you choose to accept it.

This episode continues our look at the fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5. We are examining meekness/gentleness and its importance for our leadership and in how we interact with those around us.So very thankful to Bro. Julian Davis Reid for the instrumental music that he provided. The moving song ("Mercy We Need"), written with Sis. Tramaine Parker, is featured in this episode. I pray the music and the message are a blessing.

This timely February episode spends some time looking at Scriptures that help us to learn how to LOVE. It is the first in a series of episodes that will examine each of the nine fruits of the Spirit that we learn about in Galatians 5: 22-23.