Luke 22:39–46 ( Listen ) Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives 39 And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. 40 And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” 41 And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42 saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” 43 And there appeared to him an angel from hea...
Aug 06, 2018•36 min
Genesis 18:1–8 ( Listen ) 18:1 And the LORD appeared to him by the oaks 1 of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day. 2 He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth 3 and said, “O Lord, 2 if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant. 4 Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree, 5 w...
Jul 30, 2018•38 min
Habakkuk 3 ( Listen ) Habakkuk’s Prayer 3:1 A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet, according to Shigionoth. 2 O LORD, I have heard the report of you, and your work, O LORD, do I fear. In the midst of the years revive it; in the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy. 3 God came from Teman, and the Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah His splendor covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise. 4 His brightness was like the light; rays flashed from his hand; and there he veil...
Jul 23, 2018•41 min
Nehemiah 1–2 ( Listen ) Report from Jerusalem 1:1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now it happened in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Susa the citadel, 2 that Hanani, one of my brothers, came with certain men from Judah. And I asked them concerning the Jews who escaped, who had survived the exile, and concerning Jerusalem. 3 And they said to me, “The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is...
Jul 16, 2018•39 min
The Talkback format is a 45-minute theological talk, followed by 45 minutes of Q&A with the speaker. It’s practical theology – which means the talks are rooted in faith and everyday life. Mike will help us explore what it means to be a Christian who seeks the good of the city, in an increasingly secularized and post-Christian culture.
Jul 12, 2018•1 hr 41 min
Psalm 90 ( Listen ) Book Four From Everlasting to Everlasting A Prayer of Moses, the man of God. 90:1 Lord, you have been our dwelling place 1 in all generations. 2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. 3 You return man to dust and say, “Return, O children of man!” 2 4 For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night. 5 You sweep them away as with a f...
Jul 09, 2018•41 min
Daniel 9:1–19 ( Listen ) Daniel’s Prayer for His People 9:1 In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, by descent a Mede, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans— 2 in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, perceived in the books the number of years that, according to the word of the LORD to Jeremiah the prophet, must pass before the end of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years. 3 Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy wit...
Jul 02, 2018•36 min
1 Chronicles 29:9–20 ( Listen ) 9 Then the people rejoiced because they had given willingly, for with a whole heart they had offered freely to the LORD. David the king also rejoiced greatly. David Prays in the Assembly 10 Therefore David blessed the LORD in the presence of all the assembly. And David said: “Blessed are you, O LORD, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever. 11 Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the...
Jun 25, 2018•38 min
Psalm 51 ( Listen ) Create in Me a Clean Heart, O God To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. 51:1 Have mercy on me, 1 O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! 3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so t...
Jun 18, 2018•46 min
Psalm 139 ( Listen ) Search Me, O God, and Know My Heart To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. 139:1 O LORD, you have searched me and known me! 2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. 3 You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. 4 Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether. 5 You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high;...
Jun 11, 2018•40 min
For our first Talkback, we welcome UAB Hospital chaplain, Suzanne Simmons, as she speaks on the topic – A Theology of Presence. Life is full of seasons of trials and challenge. So, how should we walk with people who are struggling? What if they aren’t Christians? What do we say when there isn’t anything to say? When do we avoid issues of suffering and when do we bring them up? What does a theology of presence even mean? Join us, as we explore these ideas and more with Suzanne Simmons.
Jun 10, 2018•1 hr 27 min
2 Kings 19:10–19 ( Listen ) 10 “Thus shall you speak to Hezekiah king of Judah: ‘Do not let your God in whom you trust deceive you by promising that Jerusalem will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria. 11 Behold, you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands, devoting them to destruction. And shall you be delivered? 12 Have the gods of the nations delivered them, the nations that my fathers destroyed, Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and the people of Eden who were in Telassa...
Jun 04, 2018•41 min
Acts 4:23–31 ( Listen ) The Believers Pray for Boldness 23 When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, 25 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, 1 said by the Holy Spirit, “‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain? 26 The ki...
May 28, 2018•37 min
Acts 4:1–11 ( Listen ) Peter and John Before the Council 4:1 And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, 2 greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. 4 But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand. 5 On...
May 21, 2018•35 min
Acts 3:1–16 ( Listen ) The Lame Beggar Healed 3:1 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 1 2 And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. 3 Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. 4 And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” 5 And he fixed his attention on them, ...
May 14, 2018•32 min
Acts 2:42–47 ( Listen ) The Fellowship of the Believers 42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe 1 came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple toge...
May 07, 2018•43 min
Acts 2:22–41 ( Listen ) 22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23 this Jesus, 1 delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. 25 For David says concerning him, “‘I saw ...
Apr 30, 2018•32 min
Apr 27, 2018•16 min
Acts 2:1–17 ( Listen ) The Coming of the Holy Spirit 2:1 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested 1 on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem...
Apr 23, 2018•36 min
Acts 1:1–14 ( Listen ) The Promise of the Holy Spirit 1:1 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. 4 And while staying 1 with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, b...
Apr 16, 2018•37 min
Acts 1:1–11 ( Listen ) The Promise of the Holy Spirit 1:1 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. 4 And while staying 1 with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, b...
Apr 08, 2018•34 min
John 20:11–18 ( Listen ) Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene 11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that...
Apr 02, 2018•27 min
Jonah 3:10–4:11 ( Listen ) 10 When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it. Jonah’s Anger and the Lord’s Compassion 4:1 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, 1 and he was angry. 2 And he prayed to the LORD and said, “O LORD, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger a...
Mar 26, 2018•38 min
Jonah 2:10–3:10 ( Listen ) 10 And the LORD spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah out upon the dry land. Jonah Goes to Nineveh 3:1 Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah the second time, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you.” 3 So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, 1 three days’ journey in breadth. 2 4 Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s journe...
Mar 12, 2018•32 min
1 Corinthians 13:11 ( Listen ) 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. ( ESV )
Mar 05, 2018•28 min
Jonah 1:17–2:10 ( Listen ) A Great Fish Swallows Jonah 17 1 And the LORD appointed 2 a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. Jonah’s Prayer 2:1 Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the belly of the fish, 2 saying, “I called out to the LORD, out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice. 3 For you cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the flood surrounded me; al...
Feb 26, 2018•38 min
Matthew 12:38–39 ( Listen ) The Sign of Jonah 38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” 39 But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. ( ESV ) Jonah 1:1–16 ( Listen ) Jonah Flees the Presence of the Lord 1:1 Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out agai...
Feb 19, 2018•37 min
Ephesians 6:10–24 ( Listen ) The Whole Armor of God 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to...
Feb 12, 2018•43 min
Ephesians 6:1–9 ( Listen ) Children and Parents 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), 3 “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” 4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Bondservants and Masters 5 Bondservants, 1 obey your earthly masters 2 with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, a...
Feb 05, 2018•41 min
Ephesians 5:21–33 ( Listen ) 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives and Husbands 22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. 25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her,...
Jan 29, 2018•39 min
