Partakers Christian Podcasts

Partakers Bible Thought 14 September 2021 – Jesus and the Apostle John

Partakers Bible Thought

14 September 2021

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
15 (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”) 16 Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known. (John1:1-18)

Today we briefly explore who Jesus was, according to one of his closest friends, the Apostle John, who is also known as “the disciple who Jesus loved.” (John 13:23-25; John 19:26-27; John 20:2; John 21:7; John 21:20-23). Together we look at questions such as: How does John describe Jesus? What does John say was the reason that Jesus came to earth? How does John describe the relationship between Jesus and God the Father? Listen or download the mp3 podcast to find out more concerning Jesus and his mother, Mary.

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Partakers Bible Thought 13 September 2021 – Jesus and His Mother Mary

Partakers Bible Thought

13 September 2021

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 forever; 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)

Today we explore the relationship between Jesus and Mary, his mother! We explore questions such as: What does the angel say will happen? How does the angel describe Jesus? How does Mary react? Listen or download the mp3 podcast to find out more concerning Jesus and his mother, Mary.

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Partakers Bible Thought 12 September 2021 – Christian Commitment to Jesus Christ

Partakers Bible Thought

12 September 2021

Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will tell me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, in your name cast out demons, and in your name do many mighty works?’ Then I will tell them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you who work iniquity.’ Everyone therefore who hears these words of mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man, who built his house on a rock. The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; and it didn’t fall, for it was founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of mine, and doesn’t do them will be like a foolish man, who built his house on the sand. The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.”
It happened, when Jesus had finished saying these things, that the multitudes were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them with authority, and not like the scribes. (Matthew 7:21-29)

Until now in His ministry, Jesus has been issuing & teaching instructions. However He now issues a warning to all those that choose to follow Him, particularly in relation to His teaching. It is here, Jesus issues the 2 choices people have, when having heard His words. Jesus confronts us with Himself. He sets before all those who would follow Him, the choice between either obeying his words or being disobedient to them. Jesus proceeds to call His followers to a firm commitment of mind, will & life to himself and his teaching.

Today we explore Jesus challenge to all those who would follow Him, to be wholly committed to Him and being obedient full to Him. We explore questions such as: What are the dangers concerning disobedience to Jesus? Is there a danger of having a purely intellectual knowledge of Jesus? How are we to respond to this hard teaching of Jesus? What are some applications for us today as Christians, those who follow Jesus Christ? Listen or download the mp3 podcast to find out more concerning this teaching of Jesus Christ and His challenge to be fully committed to Him!

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Partakers Bible Thought 10 August 2021 – The Christian and Resurrection

Partakers Bible Thought

10 August 2021

1 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” 8 Then they remembered his words. (Luke 24:1-8)

11 While the man held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade. 12 When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 13 The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. 14 You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15 You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. 16 By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see. (Acts 3:11-16)

I wonder what you know or think about the word “resurrection". Resurrection means rising or raising up. It certainly means more than coming back to life as some people think. Jesus raised three people from the dead, but that was more a resuscitation than a resurrection - those three people would die again!

Jesus Himself was resurrected from the dead! That was amazing! Jesus’ resurrection proves and vindicates all of His teaching. It certifies His claims to be the suffering Servant, just as it attests to His being fully God and the last Judge of all mankind (Isaiah 53:10-12; Acts 2:36; Acts 3:13-15; Romans 1:4). The resurrection of Jesus Christ provides the central theme for the sermons and teaching in the early church (Acts 1:22; Acts 4:33, Acts 17:18).

But what significance is there in Jesus’ resurrection? What does Jesus’ resurrection mean for the Christian? Come and discover more about Jesus’ resurrection from the dead and how that has significance for your life as a Christian today, by listening to the podcast!

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Partakers Bible Thought 8 August 2021 –The Christian Remembers Who They Are

Partakers Bible Thought

8 August 2021

4 Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths.
5 Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Saviour, and my hope is in you all day long.
6 Remember, LORD, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old.
7 Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways;
according to your love remember me, for you, LORD, are good.
(Psalm 25:4-7)

1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:1-4)

The ability to remember is a wonderful gift of God to all people! Memories can bring about the full gamut of emotions –sadness, bitterness, anger, joy, ecstasy and love! I wonder what your ability to remember is like! Perhaps you are like me, and your memory sometimes fails. Sometimes I will think I have remembered something, but it turns out to be a false memory of an event that never occurred. Or other times I will forget to remember something, and then miss out on something important! So I have learnt to write things down, in order to remember!

As a Christian, sin still tries to entangle us, but remembering certain things will help you as a  Christian to live a righteous Christian life. Why is remembering a great help in your Christian life? How can remembering, be useful to the Christian in the 21st century? Come and discover more about the role of memory in the life of the Christian by listening to the podcast!

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Partakers Bible Thought 7 August 2021 – God, the Christian and Redemption

 

Partakers Bible Thought

7 August 2021

13 So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When he made love to her, the LORD enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. 14 The women said to Naomi: “Praise be to the LORD, who this day has not left you without a guardian-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel! 15 He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.” (Ruth 4:13-15)

42 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:42-45)

18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. (1 Peter 1:18-21)

In the time of the New Testament, this word was used to refer to the buying back of a slave - the price paid to buy the slave’s freedom. God paid redemption so that humans can be freed from the slavery to sin (John 8:35, Romans 7:14). The price was paid (1 Peter 1:18-19) and so we are redeemed with the precious blood of Christ (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

Our Bible Thought yesterday was propitiation. Today we look at another big Bible word, which is a consequence of propitiation. The thought today concerns the word redemption. What is redemption? Why is redemption required? What is the consequence of redemption for the Christian, the person following Jesus Christ? Once redemption has been accepted by a person, how should that Christian respond? Come and discover more about God, the Christian and propitiation by listening to the podcast!

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Partakers Bible Thought 6 August 2021 – God, the Christian and Propitiation

Partakers Bible Thought

6 August 2021

15 “He shall then slaughter the goat for the sin offering for the people and take its blood behind the curtain and do with it as he did with the bull’s blood: He shall sprinkle it on the atonement cover and in front of it. 16 In this way he will make atonement for the Most Holy Place because of the uncleanness and rebellion of the Israelites, whatever their sins have been. He is to do the same for the tent of meeting, which is among them in the midst of their uncleanness. 17 No one is to be in the tent of meeting from the time Aaron goes in to make atonement in the Most Holy Place until he comes out, having made atonement for himself, his household and the whole community of Israel. (Leviticus 16:15-17)

25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. (Romans 3:25-26)

When I talk to people I often hear things like, God is love, so I don’t have to worry about my own lifestyle or my morals, because God is love. When I die, He will accept me as I am providing I have tried your best. And of course that is partly true! God is indeed a God of love. But we must also remember that towards sin and sinful behaviour, He has great fury, anger and wrath (Psalm 7:11; Jeremiah 21:5). Nothing we say or do can appease His hatred of sin and sinful lifestyles. Nothing we can do is able to appease God’s anger, because His anger toward sin is unquenchable. Unquenchable that is, except for one thing.

Our word today, propitiation, means the turning aside of God's anger by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. What is your understanding of this Bible word, propitiation? How does it make you feel? Why the need for propitiation at all? Why are some Christians turned off by it? How should a Christian respond to propitiation? Come and discover more about God, the Christian and propitiation by listening to the podcast!

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Partakers Bible Thought 5 August 2021 – God, the Christian and Prayer

Partakers Bible Thought

5 August 2021

5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. (Matthew 6:5-8)

26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. (Romans 8:26-27)

I wonder what you think prayer is and how much of it you have experienced? Is your vision and experience of prayer too small? Let us find out together, a small part of prayer! Prayer is to be at the centre of the relationship between God and the Christian.
How is your prayer life going? What have you learnt about prayer in the time you have been a Christian? What is the function of prayer? How is prayer more than just a mental or verbal action? What role does God Himself take in helping the Christian to pray? Come and discover more about the Christian and prayer by listening to the podcast!

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Partakers Bible Thought 2 August 2021 – The Christian Has A New Nature

Partakers Bible Thought

2 August 2021

4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7 because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. (Romans 6:4-6)

17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.
20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:17-24)

I wonder if you have ever had a favourite piece of clothing, say a coat, a shirt or a dress. It was so comfortable and cosy that you wore it seemingly every day. Then one day you realised that this coat was dirty and smelled badly. It was infested with fleas, mites and disease-ridden bacteria. It was filthy and needed washing. It was no longer fit to be worn yet you still wanted to wear it because it is so comfortable. But you couldn’t wear it, because it was only fit for burning and burying.

That is the same for the Christian in regard to the old sinful nature that each person is born with. This old nature is in conflict with God, because it is self-centred and self-pleasing. When you became a Christian, you gained a new nature that is both God pleasing and God centred.

What are the old nature and new nature? When does the Christian partake of the new nature given to them by God? Let’s discover together more about the Christian and their new nature, by listening to the podcast!

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Partakers Bible Thought 1 August 2021 – A Strategy to Cope With Covid-19

A Strategy to Cope With Covid19 Pandemic

It is almost 40 years now since I first became a Christian and started following Jesus Christ. I haven't fallen away from Him in that time, but I have known some people who have. How can we, as 21st century Christians, keep from falling away from Jesus Christ, particularly at this time when we have a global pandemic due to COVID19. The answer I believe, is what I would call the COPE strategy: Consider, Persevere and Encourage.

1. Keep Considering! (Hebrews 3:1-6)

2. Keep Persevering! (Hebrews 3:7-12, 15-19)

3. Keep Encouraging! (Hebrews 3:12-14)

Conclusion

If you would call yourself a Christian and you are unsure where you are, then please do look back and remember what Jesus has done for you. Consider Him as you look back to your first profession of faith in Him. Consider that just as He died, you died in the waters of baptism. Consider that just as He rose to physical life, you rose from the waters of baptism and will also rise again when you physically die. Consider that just as Jesus will be glorified, so too will you be glorified before the Father - if you hold out until the end.

Be assured of who you are - you are a child of the living God - hold out to the end. He has a firm grip on you, so maintain your grip on Him! Remember who you are! The way to cope with the rigours of 21st century life as a Christian believer is to keep considering, keep persevering and keep encouraging others.

 

Download and listen to the mp3 to discover more as we explore together how as 21st century Christians, we can keep from falling away from our faith. Particularly at this time when we have a global pandemic due to the Corona Virus. Come and listen as we discover more about Considering, Persevering and Encouraging!!

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