#the Ministry of following CHrist

[igate777]

(via LET US RECOMMIT OURSELVES TO LOOK UNTO JESUS CHRIST.)

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

Self-Denial and Crossbearing

And He called the crowd to Him with His disciples and said to them, If anyone wants to follow after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.

For whoever wants to save his soul-life shall lose it; but whoever will lose his soul-life for My sake and the gospel’s shall save it.

For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul-life?

For what could a man give in exchange for his soul-life?

For whoever is ashamed of Me and of My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man also will be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels. — Mark 8:34-38 | Recovery Version (REC) The Recovery Version of the Holy Bible © 2009 Living Stream Ministry. All rights reserved. Cross References: Matthew 8:20; Matthew 10:33; Matthew 10:38-39; Matthew 16:24; Matthew 16:26; Mark 13:26; Luke 9:26; Luke 17:33; John 12:25

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Mark 8:34–38: You Can't Buy a Soul Out of Hell

[theinwardlight]

Just as the goal of the vocal minister is not simply to be heard but for the living Word of Christ to be heard through his or her words, so the primary calling of the pastoral minister is not to do shepherding but to lead the flock to the nurturing-healing power of Christ – the true Shepherd of the sheep.

Paul Anderson, Following Jesus

[yeslordmyking]

Acts 14:21-22 — Today's Verse for Tuesday, June 13, 2023

[biblebloodhound]

Spiritual Wisdom and Power (1 Corinthians 2:1-5)

“Wisdom” is the ability to take a body of knowledge and apply it to concrete situations in life.

By Bible Art When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come proclaiming the testimony of God to you with superior speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I came to you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. My speech and my proclamation were made not with persuasive words of wisdom but with a demonstration of the…

[mindfulldsliving]

The Rock of Our Redeemer: A Path to Spiritual Stability

In the Book of Helaman, we encounter a cycle that seems all too familiar even today—a dangerous loop of pride and humility. This cycle, often referred to as the "Pride Cycle," serves as a profound lesson on the human condition.

Building on the Rock of our Redeemer: Insights from Helaman 1-6 The Book of Helaman presents a turbulent period filled with political unrest, bands of robbers, and widespread rejection of prophets among the Nephites and Lamanites. Yet, it’s not just about the chaos—it’s about resilience. How did individuals like Nephi and Lehi remain spiritually strong as their world crumbled? The secret lies in…

[totallytonyavlogsyoutuber]

How to Connect with God

[thelattertimesofbeingcrazyfc]

What God Is Like 

“I believe; help my unbelief.”– Mark 9:24 What should we believe about God? We’re told he’s big and powerful—so big and so powerful, in fact, he created . . . everything (Colossians 1:16). We’re told he sees everything and knows everything and can do anything (Isaiah 55:9; Hebrews 4:13; Ephesians 3:20). We’re told it’s always been so (Psalm 90:1-2). “‘I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the…

[samafricanreporter]

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – Alph Lukau, a prominent spiritual leader and founder of Alleluia Ministries International, has a vision for Jesus Christ and his followers that is both inspiring and transformative and has been making waves in the global religious community for his powerful teachings and miraculous healing services.

With over million followers on social media, Lukau has become a beacon of hope for those seeking spiritual guidance and healing. His ministry has expanded to over 30 countries, with thousands of people flocking to his services for a chance to experience the power of God firsthand. Alph Lukau recently hosted Dr Paula White a who is a prominent pastor, speaker, and best-selling author, Paula White’s passionate and dynamic preaching has inspired millions worldwide. This revolutionary alliance brought together the unique strengths and spiritual insights of Alph Lukau and Paula White. Lukau, revered as a prophet with an exceptional ability to perform miracles, and White, a prominent female pastor known for her powerful preaching and leadership, hold a combined experience spanning decades of ministry.

[superiorcatholicinspiration]

Daily Mass: We follow Christ with all our heart. Catholic Inspiration

Photo by Min An on Pexels.com Inspired by their encounter with Christ, the group of disciples continues to grow as they draw near to the Lord and give witness to others. Mass Readings – Friday of the 24th Week of the Year *************** Catholic Inspiration Archives

[yeslordmyking]

Psalm 9:1 — Today's Verse for Sunday, September 1, 2024

[holyspiritgirl]

Study a bible verse with me 🤍

John 12:24 (NLT) says:

“I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives.”

• Through scripture, Jesus uses the metaphor of a grain of wheat to illustrate a deeper spiritual truth. In agriculture, a single grain of wheat must be buried in the soil to grow into a plant. So technically, it’s “death” is essential for new growth and multiplication.

• The "death" of the kernel symbolizes the necessary sacrifice and transformation required for new life. For Jesus, this metaphor directly points to His impending crucifixion. His physical death is essential for the spiritual renewal and salvation of humanity. Just as the seed must die to bring forth new life, Jesus must undergo His death to bring about the promise of eternal life.

• This verse emphasizes that Jesus’ sacrificial death will not be in vain but will result in a "plentiful harvest of new lives." This indicates that His death will lead to the growth of many new believers and the establishment of a new spiritual reality. The “new kernels” represent the new lives and believers that will emerge from His sacrificial act.

• This principle extends beyond Jesus’ own death. It serves as a broader teaching on discipleship and sacrifice. As followers of Christ, we are also called to embrace the idea that personal sacrifice and self-denial are often necessary for spiritual growth and fruitful ministry. The idea is that through sacrifice, individuals can contribute to a greater spiritual harvest and the spread of God's Kingdom.

• The verse highlights a counterintuitive truth in the Kingdom of God: true success and growth often come through sacrifice and loss. This perspective challenges worldly views on success and encourages us to embrace sacrificial love and service as pathways to spiritual fruitfulness.

• In summary, John 12:24 uses the metaphor of a grain of wheat to show why Jesus’ death was necessary for a great spiritual harvest and crucial for our salvation. He died for our sins out of immense love, so we wouldn’t have to face death ourselves. His sacrifice leads to new spiritual life and growth, not only for Himself but also for those who follow Him and are called to live selflessly.

Have a blessed day 👼🏻🙏💕

[biblebloodhound]

Jesus Stills the Storm (Mark 4:35-41)

Both the courageous and cowardly are fearful – the difference is that the former acts despite the fear, and the latter does not act because of the fear.

Calming the Storm #1, by Tigran Ghulyan On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him.  A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion, and…

[tears-that-heal]

Great online content to dive deep into studying God’s Word! I recommend following her tumblr. 😄

Day 45: Pruned to perfection

Be blessed as you read❤️

#triedandtrue #christianblog #Jesus #jesuslovesyou

[blessedarethebinarybreakers]

I’m a transfem Christian, and sometimes I worry that I’m twisting Christianity to suit my politics and views rather than the reverse. I was raised as a Southern Baptist and left for the Episcopal Church, with the conservatism of the former church being a large reason for my departure. I really don’t want to have to chose between either being able to transition and being a good Christian, but I’m so worried that I’ll have to make that choice.

Hey there, I am so sorry for the delay in responding to this. I don't for a second believe you are "twisting" Christianity to suit your views by living into your true self:

Jesus tells us that we can know a thing by its fruit — if the fruit is good, the tree is good; if the fruit is bad, the tree is bad (Luke 6:43-45; Matthew 7:15-20).

What are the fruits of transition? Joy, community, reconnection with your own body? Life?

What are the fruits of the things preached by ultra conservative churches? Hatred, fear of difference, violence? Deportation instead of love of stranger, judgment instead of mercy, control via terror instead of liberation through God's love?

Near the end of this webpage of mine about a liberatory framework for reading scripture, I address the accusation that queer Christians are just "reading into" the Bible what we want to see. To sum it up, I agree that all people bring our biases to the text — heck, the biblical authors brought their own biases to the text!

“The truth is, you can bend Scripture to say just about anything you want it to say. You can bend it until it breaks. For those who count the Bible as sacred, interpretation is not a matter of whether to pick and choose, but how to pick and choose. We’re all selective. We all wrestle with how to interpret and apply the Bible in our lives. We all go to the text looking for something, and we all have a tendency to find it." - Rachel Held Evans

Many theologians say that when we accept both our own biases and the biases of the people who wrote, edited, and compiled the books of the Bible, the best way to determine what is Divine in scripture is to follow The Rule of Love:

"Any interpretation of scripture is wrong that shows indifference or contempt for any individual or group inside or outside the church. All right interpretations reflect the love of God...for all kinds of people everywhere, everyone included and no one excluded.”

- Shirley Guthrie

The webpage offers more details about this way of reading the Bible, if you are interested. But at the end of the day, the main thing I hope you can come to believe not only in your head but in your heart and your body is that you are beloved. That God created you exactly as you are with purpose and delight. That you have vital gifts to share with the world that the Body of Christ is not whole without.

If you need further assurance through theology, I invite you to check out Austen Hartke's Transgender and Christian YouTube series.

You may also find Rev. Nicole Garcia's story encouraging; she's a trans pastor who once said that she has experienced two vocations in life: one to ordained ministry, and one to being a woman.

God is calling you, too. I pray that you can feel Their presence and love in your life -- even when it's hard to believe in it yourself. <3

(For more, I have a trans tag and an affirmation tag and trans women tag and also an FAQ you might like to peruse through)

[tomicscomics]

12/08/2023

On your Mark...

JOKE-OGRAPHY: 1. The Gospel of Mark begins by talking about John the Baptist.  In a few quick verses, Mark says John was a desert-dweller who came to baptize people in preparation for the Messiah's ministry.  Mark also argues that John's coming was prophesied by Isaiah, who said there would come a voice crying out in the desert, a messenger sent ahead of the Lord, making straight His paths.  Some of John's followers assumed that John himself was the Messiah, but John told them, "One mightier than I is coming after me.  I am not worthy to loosen His sandals.  I baptize you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." 2. In this cartoon, the key verses about "going ahead of the Lord" and "making straight His paths" and "one mightier than I is coming" have been torn from their sacred context and crudely slapped into the new and exciting context of Jesus and John playing Tag as kids. 3. Jesus muses that John always runs in a straight line, making it easy to follow him, and quotes Isaiah as Mark did.  However, unlike Mark's quote, which implied John was preparing his followers for Jesus, Jesus's quote simply implies John is bad at Tag-tics -- that is, the tactics of Tag -- and has erred gravely in accepting Christ's challenge. 4. At the end, John screams in panic.  In Mark's Gospel, he says, "One mightier than I is coming after me," because he knows the true Messiah, Jesus, will be joining public ministry shortly, and he wants people to anticipate His coming.  In this cartoon, John says, "One mightier than I is coming after me," because his little Cousin has come after him with a speed that far exceeds his own, and when John is terrified, he screams like a maniac.