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Episodes
Thursday Dec 23, 2021
Thursday Dec 23, 2021
Partakers Christmas Thought
23 December 2021
Mary
Part 5: Why did Mary have to be a virgin?
29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favour with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.
32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants for ever; his kingdom will never end.’
34 ‘How will this be,’ Mary asked the angel, ‘since I am a virgin?’
35 The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.
(Luke 1:29-35)
A good question to ask now is in relation to today, is why did Mary have to be a virgin? We know that the God-man, Jesus, as a human does not have a father and that as the Son of God he had no mother. The Holy Spirit, through whom Mary conceived, is not just any spirit, but it is God himself whose act must be understood spiritually and not physically.
In the Podcast today, we seek to answer the question of why Mary needed to be a virgin, in order to be the mother of Jesus Christ.
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Wednesday Dec 22, 2021
Wednesday Dec 22, 2021
Partakers Christmas Thought
22 December 2021
Mary
Part 4: Mary’s Song (v51-56)
51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful
55 to Abraham and his descendants forever,
just as he promised our ancestors.”
56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
(Luke 2:51-56)
Mary’s song is a spontaneous song of renewal, revolution and reformation. God is on the march and God is going to do something new! Some scholars believe Mary is looking back on all the stories she has heard about how God has dealt with people in the past. Others think that she is being prophetic and only looking ahead to what God will do. I personally think it is both.
In the Podcast today, we continue looking at Mary’s spontaneous song, that we call the Magnificat! We look at Luke 2:46-50 today. Listen to or download the mp3 to hear more about this most extraordinary yet ordinary woman and the song of worship to, and about, her God.
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Tuesday Dec 21, 2021
Tuesday Dec 21, 2021
Partakers Christmas Thought
21 December 2021
Mary
Part 3: Mary’s Song (v46-50)
46 And Mary said:
“My soul glorifies the Lord
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
48 for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.
50 His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.
(Luke 2:46-50)
In response to being greeted by Elizabeth, Mary breaks out in spontaneous song! A song seemingly of renewal, revolution and reformation. Mary proclaims that God is on the march and God is going to do something new! Some scholars believe Mary is looking back on all the stories she has heard about how God has dealt with people in the past. Others think that she is being prophetic and only looking ahead to what God will do. I personally think it is both.
In the Podcast today, we discover that in response to Elizabeth’s greeting, Mary responds in a spontaneous song, that we call the Magnficat! We look at Luke 2:46-50 today and Luke 2:51-56 tomorrow. Listen to or download the mp3 to hear more about this most extraordinary yet ordinary woman and the majestic song of worship to, and about, her God.
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You can now purchase our book about the story of Christmas by clicking or tapping on this link here which will take you to Amazon!
Monday Dec 20, 2021
Monday Dec 20, 2021
Partakers Christmas Thought
20 December 2021
Mary
Part 2: Mary visits Elizabeth
39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favoured, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfil his promises to her!”
46 And Mary said:
“My soul glorifies the Lord
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
48 for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.
50 His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.
51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful
55 to Abraham and his descendants forever,
just as he promised our ancestors.”
56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
(Luke 2:39-56)
In the Podcast today, we discover that Mary has gone to visit her cousin, Elizabeth. What transpires during this visit? How is Mary greeted? How does Mary respond? Listen to or download the mp3 to hear more about this most extraordinary yet ordinary woman.
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You can now purchase our book about the story of Christmas by clicking or tapping on this link here which will take you to Amazon!
Sunday Dec 19, 2021
Sunday Dec 19, 2021
Partakers Christmas Thought
19 December 2021
Mary
Part 1: An Angelic Visitor
26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, ‘Greetings, you who are highly favoured! The Lord is with you.’
29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favour with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.
32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants for ever; his kingdom will never end.’
34 ‘How will this be,’ Mary asked the angel, ‘since I am a virgin?’
35 The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.
36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.’
38 ‘I am the Lord’s servant,’ Mary answered. ‘May your word to me be fulfilled.’ Then the angel left her.
(Luke 1:26-38)
There is much to be said about this time of year we call Christmas. Worldwide there are about 250 babies born every minute. Yet, the birth we celebrate at Christmas, is like no other birth of a human. That birth of the man Jesus Christ, 2000 years ago, caused the world to change. The birth of Jesus Christ causes more of the world today to pause amidst the busy-ness of life, take a breath amidst the noise of daily life and celebrate in many different ways and fashions.
As we continue to look at the event in the Christian calendar of Christmas, over the next few podcasts, we will look at one of the very central figures, Mary, the mother of Jesus. Mary, although a teenager at the time, was given the great privilege and awesome responsibility of carrying and giving birth to God’s Son, the Messiah.
In the Podcast today, in the lead up to Christmas, we start a series of Podcasts looking at Mary, the mother of Jesus. Listen to or download the mp3 to hear more about this most extraordinary yet ordinary woman.
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You can now purchase our book about the story of Christmas by clicking or tapping on this link here which will take you to Amazon!
Wednesday Jun 02, 2021
Wednesday Jun 02, 2021
Partakers Bible Thought
2 June 2021
Paul's Final Journey Completed
In our previous podcast, we saw Paul imprisoned in Caesarea and while there, appealed directly to Caesar. Today we look at the events of his journey to Rome. Come and listen to find out what happens on this journey, involving snakes, shipwrecks and proclaiming salvation through Jesus Christ.
39 When daylight came, they did not recognise the land, but they saw a bay with a sandy beach, where they decided to run the ship aground if they could. 40 Cutting loose the anchors, they left them in the sea and at the same time untied the ropes that held the rudders. Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and made for the beach. 41 But the ship struck a sand-bar and ran aground. The bow stuck fast and would not move, and the stern was broken to pieces by the pounding of the surf.
42 The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping. 43 But the centurion wanted to spare Paul’s life and kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land. 44 The rest were to get there on planks or on other pieces of the ship. In this way everyone reached land safely.
28:1 Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. 2 The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. 3 Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. 4 When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, ‘This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.’ 5 But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. 6 The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.(Acts 27:39–28:6)
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Tuesday Jun 01, 2021
Tuesday Jun 01, 2021
Partakers Bible Thought
1 June 2021
Paul's Final Journey Commences
In our previous podcast, we saw the Church going forward together in unity. Today, we jump ahead 10 years and the Gospel of Jesus Christ had spread throughout the Roman Empire. Paul is imprisoned in Caesarea. The Jewish leaders wanted Paul tried and executed, and Festus was willing to go along with that idea. Paul, as ever guided by the Holy Spirit, appealed directly to Caesar. Paul was a Roman citizen and any Roman citizen had that right. So after what we call the three missionary journeys, Paul is now on a final journey – to Rome. Come and listen to find out what happens next in the story of the Church.
19 ‘So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. 20 First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds. 21 That is why some Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me. 22 But God has helped me to this very day; so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen – 23 that the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles.’
24 At this point Festus interrupted Paul’s defence. ‘You are out of your mind, Paul!’ he shouted. ‘Your great learning is driving you insane.’
25 ‘I am not insane, most excellent Festus,’ Paul replied. ‘What I am saying is true and reasonable. 26 The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.’
28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, ‘Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?’
29 Paul replied, ‘Short time or long – I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.’
30 The king rose, and with him the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them. 31 After they left the room, they began saying to one another, ‘This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment.’
32 Agrippa said to Festus, ‘This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.’ (Acts 26:19-32)
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Sunday May 23, 2021
Sunday May 23, 2021
Partakers Bible Thought
23 May 2021
Pentecost Power and Passion
G'day! Today is Pentecost Sunday where Christians around the world remember and celebrate the coming of the promised Holy Spirit! Happy Pentecost!
Jesus has now ascended back to the right hand of the Father. The 12 apostles are now back in Jerusalem and waiting. Waiting for the Holy Spirit to come. The coming of God the Holy Spirit is in fulfilment of the promise that Almighty and All-powerful God would indwell all those people who chose to follow Him. This event was prophesied many years before. An example is from the prophet Ezekiel:
“And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.” (Ezekiel 36:27)
Throughout His earthly ministry Jesus had talked about how after He departed that God the Holy Spirit would come (John 15:26). Starting today and over the coming few days we will look at the Holy Spirit and into the book of Acts seeing how the Holy Spirit worked within and through the early Church. Let's look together!
Wednesday May 19, 2021
Wednesday May 19, 2021
G'day! Welcome to Partakers! Today we have a short midweek worship session together! Come on in!
- Opening Prayer
- Reading: Proverbs 3:5-7
- Song
- Bible Thought
- Closing Prayer
(All songs and music are in the Public Domain available here).
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Sunday May 02, 2021
Sunday May 02, 2021
Exploring Islam
12. The Jesus of Islam
Part 3 – The Cross
Qur’an 4:157 – ‘"Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, the messenger of Allah." And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them.’
This is a fascinating verse which many Muslims are aware of given the prominence of Jesus in discussions with Christians. It is reliant upon the understanding that Allah respects his chosen prophets to such a degree that a humiliating death by crucifixion would not be permitted. Nothing more is said regarding this matter in the Qur’an and it begs the question from a non-Muslim perspective of proof. Outside of this verse there seems to be no other supporting evidence that this was the case. And I guess this is to be expected as the concept itself suggests that all present at the crucifixion and presumably all the subsequent historians were hoodwinked into believing the opposite.
Admittedly, Christianity faces a similar but I think less taxing burden of proof in their defence of a risen Jesus from the tomb on Easter morning. So instead of dying on the cross, the Islamic Jesus was taken up into heaven during this mystical switch and remains there to this day.
Again, this is a unique aspect of Jesus within Islam which no other prophet including Muhammad can claim. Jesus has a further role to play in the grand scheme of history according to Islam. At the end of time before judgement day comes, Jesus will return to the earth still as a physical man and successfully lead all those chosen by Allah into Islam. The Qur’an does not speak much of this aspect leaving Muslims to rely strongly on the traditions contained in the Hadith.
Unlike in Christianity who affirms Jesus’ role in judgement, the Islamic Jesus finally dies before this happens and leaves Allah to judge the world. So this marks the conclusion of the Exploring Islam series. I have enjoyed preparing and writing these podcasts and I hope that you have benefited from them. Remember my original goal was to dispel some of the misunderstandings of Islam which are so prevalent in Western societies and can be the source of much tension with our Muslim neighbours.
Even though there are significant differences between Islam and Christianity I hope I have equally showed that there are similarities even bridges for discussion. I have found the best way to facilitate this is from the attitude of respect and friendship, things which Muslims themselves value highly.
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