Your Church Friends Podcast

Join along as Muireadhach reads the Forgotten Book of Lamentations.
 
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It was just one book that was found after years of being lost. It laid out clearly that what the King of Judah and the people had been doing was wrong, so King Josiah made a change. He tore down all the things that were used to worship other gods and had the people celebrate the Passover again. You could say it was a time of spiritual revival for Judah, but the Prophet Zephaniah saw through this and saw through the hearts of the people. He knew that the changes were only surface level and that the people were still guilty of making costly mistakes in their relationship with God.
 
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What is the connection with Zephaniah 1:2-3 and the flood narrative in Genesis 6? Who is Molech and How does Zephaniah present the day of the Lord? Listen as Your Church Friends dive deep into the Forgotten Book of Zephaniah and unpack all these questions.
 
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How forgotten is the book of Zephaniah? Who is Zephaniah and when was Zephaniah a prophet? Listen as Your Church Friends dive deep into the Forgotten Book of Zephaniah and unpack all these questions.
 
Breakdown of the Forgotten Book of Zephaniah:
Judgment against Judah (Zephaniah 1:1-2:3)
Judgment against the nations (Zephaniah 2:4-15)
The future of Jerusalem (Zephaniah 3:1-20)
Zephaniah & The Bible:
1:2 “I will utterly sweep”—cf. Jer 8:13.
1:3 “I will sweep away humans and animals … the birds of the sky and the fish of the sea”—cf. Hos 4:3.
1:7 “Hush before the Lord”—cf. Hab 2:20.
1:7 “The Lord has prepared a sacrifice”—cf. Isa 34:6; Jer 46:10.
1:9 “Fill their master’s house with lawlessness”—cf. Amos 3:10.
1:12 “Congealing on their dregs”—cf. Jer 48:11.
1:13 “They shall build houses but not inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards but not drink their wine”—cf. Deut 28:30; Amos 5:11; Jer 29:5–7 and passim.
1:15 “A day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and dense fog”—cf. Joel 2:2.
1:18 “Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the wrath of the Lord”—cf. Ezek 7:19.
2:2 “Fleeting like chaff”—cf. Isa 17:13–14.
2:3 “Seek righteousness, seek humility”—cf. Mic 6:8.
2:8, 10 “I have heard the taunts of Moab … This is what they get for their pride”—cf. Jer 48:29.
2:9 “Moab shall be like Sodom … a permanent wasteland”—cf. Jer 49:18.
2:14 “In it herds shall lie down, every nation’s beasts. Both the jackdaw and the owl shall roost on its capitals, a voice shall shriek from the window”—cf. Isa 13:21–22; 34:13–15.
2:15 “This is the joyful city, dwelling secure, telling itself”—cf. Isa 23:7; 47:8.
2:15 “Anyone who passes by hisses, shakes his hand”—cf. 1 Kgs 9:8; Jer 19:8; 49:17; 50:13.
3:3 “Wolves of the evening”—cf. Hab 1:8.
3:4 “Profane the holy, corrupt the teaching”—cf. Ezek 22:26.
3:10 “From beyond the rivers of Cush … will bring my offering”—cf. Isa 18:7.
3:11 “Elated with pridefulness”—cf. Isa 13:3.
3:14 “Sing, Fair Zion … be glad and exult”—cf. Isa 44:23; 54:1; Joel 2:23.
3:17 “He rejoices over you with gladness”—cf. Deut 30:9; Jer 32:41.
3:19 “I will rescue the lame, and the strayed I will gather in”—cf. Mic 4:6–7.
 
The poem Dies irae (“Day of Wrath”), often attributed to Thomas of Celano (c. AD 1185–1260), which was chanted for many centuries in the Western church as part of requiem masses, was likely the most prominent representation of a part of Zephaniah (1:14–18).
THAT day of wrath, that dreadful day,
shall heaven and earth in ashes lay,
as David and the Sybil say.
               What horror must invade the mind
when the approaching Judge shall find
and sift the deeds of all mankind!
               The mighty trumpet's wondrous tone
shall rend each tomb's sepulchral stone
and summon all before the Throne.
               Now death and nature with surprise
behold the trembling sinners rise
to meet the Judge's searching eyes.
               Then shall with universal dread
the Book of Consciences be read
to judge the lives of all the dead.
               For now before the Judge severe
all hidden things must plain appear;
no crime can pass unpunished here.
               O what shall I, so guilty plead?
and who for me will intercede?
when even Saints shall comfort need?
               O King of dreadful majesty!
grace and mercy You grant free;
as Fount of Kindness, save me!
               Recall, dear Jesus, for my sake
you did our suffering nature take
then do not now my soul forsake!
               In weariness You sought for me,
and suffering upon the tree!
let not in vain such labor be.
               O Judge of justice, hear, I pray,
for pity take my sins away
before the dreadful reckoning day.
               Your gracious face, O Lord, I seek;
deep shame and grief are on my cheek;
in sighs and tears my sorrows speak.
               You Who did Mary's guilt unbind,
and mercy for the robber find,
have filled with hope my anxious mind.
               How worthless are my prayers I know,
yet, Lord forbid that I should go
into the fires of endless woe.
               Divorced from the accursed band,
o make me with Your sheep to stand,
as child of grace, at Your right Hand.
               When the doomed can no more flee
from the fires of misery
with the chosen call me.
               Before You, humbled, Lord, I lie,
my heart like ashes, crushed and dry,
assist me when I die.
               Full of tears and full of dread
is that day that wakes the dead,
calling all, with solemn blast
to be judged for all their past.
               Lord, have mercy, Jesus blest,
grant them all Your Light and Rest. Amen.
 
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Join along as Muireadhach reads the Forgotten Book of Zephaniah.
 
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Get ready to be blessed on this week's episode. Chris will be diving into the inspiring words of Psalm 1 and discovering how to find true happiness by following God's path. We'll explore the difference between walking with God and following the crowd and learn how meditating on His Word can bring happiness and Godly prosperity to our lives.
 
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Psalm 3 is a beautiful and comforting psalm that speaks to the human experience of facing challenges and seeking refuge in God. In this episode, Chris will delve into the rich meanings and themes of this psalm, and explore how it can provide hope, strength, and comfort in times of trouble. Whether you are facing a difficult situation or simply looking for inspiration and encouragement, this episode will offer valuable insights and encouragement to finding peace and rest in God’s presence.
 
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For Gaius it wasn’t just a title, it was his testimony and it showed through his hospitality. When other believers came to town, Gaius wouldn’t hesitate to open his home to them and when they left, he would provide the provisions they needed for the next journey. For Diotrephes it was all about the title. He was insecure, critical, arrogant, and intimidated others. He didn’t care how he was perceived by others, all he cared about was the title. And so, the letter of Third John presents a simple question to us all is it all about the title or is it about the testimony.
 
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He had so much to write to them and some of what was in his heart would have to wait until he was face to face with them, but one very important message couldn’t wait. One message needs to be addressed immediately and so John picks up pen and paper and writes to the church (the chosen lady) to LOVE one another. John, much older, understands the importance of loving one another and what it means to truly love. For John love was more than an emotion or feeling it was walking in obedience to God’s commands and if the church (the chosen lady) could do that then loving each other would not be a problem. He wants the church to know that if you say you love God, you will obey God and if you obey God, you will love others.
 
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What are the Johannine Letters and who wrote 2 & 3 John? Who was 2 John written to? Who are Gaius, Diotrephes & Demetrius and who or what is the antichrist? Listen as Your Church Friends dive deep into the Forgotten Books of 2 & 3 John and unpack all these questions.
Breakdown of the Forgotten Book of 2 John:
Greeting (1-3)
The love commandment (4-6)
Warning against false teachers (7-11)
Conclusion (12-13)
Breakdown of the Forgotten Book of 3 John:
Greeting (1-4)
Gaius is instructed (5-8)
Diotrephes is criticized (9-11)
Demetrius is recommended (12)
Conclusion (13-15)
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Join along as Muireadhach reads the Forgotten Books of 2 & 3 John.
 
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The First person to take Amos’ socio-ethical message seriously was the Dominican friar Girolamo Savonarola. During Lent in Florence, Italy, in 1496, Savonarola preached a series of hard-hitting sermons on Amos and Zechariah against what he felt were the political and religious sins of that city-state. These sermons led to his imprisonment and subsequent execution in 1498. More recent Martin Luther King Jr. in his amazing, world changing “I have a dream” speech quotes Amos 5:24 “Let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream.” This was the message that Amos was delivering to the people of Israel as well. He wanted them to know that their improper worship had led to improper treatment of others. He wanted to remind them that justice should roll out of them and that would cause righteousness to flow out to the other nations.
 
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The nations around them were about to be judged for their wicked actions and the children of Israel were ready to celebrate this “Day of the LORD” that was about to come on them, but the prophet Amos would let them know that the same judgement that was coming on the surrounding nations was about to hit both Israel and Judah. Israel and Judah were God’s chosen people and with being God’s chosen people they had the responsibility to be the light to the nations around them. Unfortunately, the nations around them had corrupted them. They were no longer worshipping God the way He had commanded them. They worshipped Him the way they wanted to. Make no mistake about it they were still seeking worship however they just weren’t seeking God in their worship.
 
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Who was Amos and when was Amos written? What do we know about King Jeroboam II & King Uzziah? Why was Israel worshiping at Bethel? What social issues was Amos addressing and from Amos’ perspective, what is the Day of the Lord? Listen as Your Church Friends dive deep into the Forgotten Book of Amos and unpack all these questions.
 
Breakdown of the Forgotten Book of Amos:
Part 1: Indictments against the nations, Judah & Israel (Amos 1-2)
Judgment on Israel (Amos 3-6)
Visions of judgment and restoration (Amos 7-9)
 
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Join along as Muireadhach reads the Forgotten Book of Amos.
 
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These aren’t stories that he made up or fables to tell others, no, this was Peter’s life that he lived and experienced. As he writes what could have been his last words to the church, he wants to leave them with one final message “This is how you walk with God”. See false teachers started to creep into the church and were pulling people away with their lies about who Jesus was and if He would return. Peter warns the church that they and all who follow them will have their judgement on The Day of the Lord. For those that don’t follow them he encourages them to stay faithful, be on their guard and grow in the grace and knowledge of who Jesus is.
 
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How did Peter go from denying Jesus to leading the church? What is the divine nature and how does the Eastern Orthodox term theosis relate to the divine nature? How does Peter address the Day of the Lord and what is Tartarus? Listen as Your Church Friends dive deep into the Forgotten Book of 2 Peter and unpack all these questions.
 
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When was 2 Peter written and who wrote the letter? Who was Peter in the gospels? What happened on the holy mountain and how does it relate to the Tent of Meetings and the temple in the Old Testament? Listen as Your Church Friends dive deep into the Forgotten Book of 2 Peter and unpack all these questions.
 
Breakdown of the Forgotten Book of 2 Peter:
Greeting (1:1-2)
Call to develop Christian character (1:3-21)
The danger of false teaching (2:1-22)
Hope in the Lord’s return (3:1-13)
Closing commands (3:14-18)
 
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Join along as Muireadhach reads the Forgotten Book of 2 Peter.
 
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The Conviction Series: Listen as Your Church Friends with special guest Pastor Ken Goodban discuss what convicts them from James chapter 5. The conversations starts off with the simple question of “How is your prayer life?” Then it moves to confession and how that confessing our sins to each other brings healing to our lives. After that it’s everyone’s favorite topic, patience. We discuss how patience is required of us and how we can use patience to work out our trust muscle. Finally, the episode ends with a look at generosity and what it means to the Christian life.
 
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