Partakers Christian Podcasts

3. Church Begins - Persecution Right mouse click or tap here to save this Podcast as a MP3. The world was changing, particularly for the Jewish people.  They were still under the rule of the odious Romans, in the land God had given them.  For centuries they had been expectant of a Messiah, a King, to rise up and rid them of the Roman oppressors.  When the Messiah, Jesus Christ, did come - they missed Him.  They had misunderstood what the Messiah was to do.  The Messiah was not to lead a political revolution as they thought, but rather lead a spiritual revolution, bring people back into relationship with God.  The worldview of the Jewish people needed to be changed.  When worldviews need wholesale change of focus, problems arise.  The embryonic church, followers of Jesus Christ the Messiah, was soon to feel pressure to change back. Its not long into the book of Acts, and therefore the history of the church, that persecution arises.  We see the first stages of thi

2. Church Begins - Power & passion Right mouse click to save this Podcast as a MP3. 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth." 1:12-14 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mountain called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away. When they had come in, they went up into the upper room, where they were staying; that is Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James. All these with one accord continued steadfastly in prayer and supplication, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. Acts 2:1-2  Now when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all with one accord in one place.   Suddenly there came from the sky a sound like the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. As we saw last ti

Psalm 93 93:1 Yahweh reigns! He is clothed with majesty! Yahweh is armed with strength. The world also is established. It can’t be moved. 93:2 Your throne is established from long ago. You are from everlasting. 93:3 The floods have lifted up, Yahweh, the floods have lifted up their voice. The floods lift up their waves. 93:4 Above the voices of many waters, the mighty breakers of the sea, Yahweh on high is mighty. 93:5 Your statutes stand firm. Holiness adorns your house, Yahweh, forevermore.   Click or Tap here to listen to or save this as an audio mp3 file

1. Church begins - Catalyst Jesus' resurrection is the catalyst for the mission of the church, beginning with the disciples and throughout history.  Indeed, the growth and spread of the church, is a proof of the historical fact of Jesus' physical resurrection or rising from the dead.  Having been raised from the dead, Jesus' mission to earth is coming to an end and shortly He will be returning to the right hand of the Father. Before He does so though, He has some more words to say to His disciples.  Lets read Acts 1v1-12 for what happened between His resurrection and ascension. The first book I wrote, Theophilus, concerned all that Jesus began both to do and to teach, until the day in which he was received up, after he had given commandment through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. To these he also showed himself alive after he suffered, by many proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days, and speaking about God's Kingdom. Being assembled together with them, he commanded them, "Do

Psalm 66 For the Chief Musician. A song. A Psalm. 66:1 Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth! 66:2 Sing to the glory of his name! Offer glory and praise! 66:3 Tell God, "How awesome are your deeds! Through the greatness of your power, your enemies submit themselves to you. 66:4 All the earth will worship you, and will sing to you; they will sing to your name." Selah. 66:5 Come, and see God's deeds- awesome work on behalf of the children of men. 66:6 He turned the sea into dry land. They went through the river on foot. There, we rejoiced in him. 66:7 He rules by his might forever. His eyes watch the nations. Don't let the rebellious rise up against him. Selah. 66:8 Praise our God, you peoples! Make the sound of his praise heard, 66:9 who preserves our life among the living, and doesn't allow our feet to be moved. 66:10 For you, God, have tested us. You have refined us, as silver is refined. 66:11 You brought us into prison. You laid a burden on our backs. 66:12 You allowed me

Psalm 99 (as read by Sarah) 99:1 Yahweh reigns! Let the peoples tremble. He sits enthroned among the cherubim. Let the earth be moved. 99:2 Yahweh is great in Zion. He is high above all the peoples. 99:3 Let them praise your great and awesome name. He is Holy! 99:4 The King's strength also loves justice. You do establish equity. You execute justice and righteousness in Jacob. 99:5 Exalt Yahweh our God. Worship at his footstool. He is Holy! 99:6 Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel among those who call on his name; they called on Yahweh, and he answered them. 99:7 He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud. They kept his testimonies, the statute that he gave them. 99:8 You answered them, Yahweh our God. You are a God who forgave them, although you took vengeance for their doings. 99:9 Exalt Yahweh, our God. Worship at his holy hill, for Yahweh, our God, is holy!   Right mouse click to save/download this Psalm as a MP3 file

Psalm 131 A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem. A psalm of David.   Lord, my heart is not proud; my eyes are not haughty.   I don't concern myself with matters too great or too awesome for me to grasp. Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself, like a weaned child who no longer cries for its mother's milk. Yes, like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, put your hope in the Lord - now and always.     Click or Tap here to listen to or save this as an audio mp3 file

So Great A Salvation  Part 3 - The Christian is Declared Clean However. There is a problem with the words ‘justified’ and ‘righteous’ in English. They sound so different but translate as two words which are very similar, because they share the same root in Greek. We could replace ‘justified’ with ‘righteousified’, and know what it meant better, if only there was such a word in English! So we are justified (or ‘’righteousified’) – treated as though we are righteous in the eyes of God (Romans 3:24,26). We receive the gift of righteousness and so will reign in life (Romans 5: 17) and the list of the Christian Disciples sins is nailed to the cross of Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:13-14). Sanctification Then there is sanctification or cleansing of which there are 3 stages. We have been sanctified and made holy (Hebrews 10:10) by the death of Jesus Christ and we are washed clean (1 Corinthians 6:11). As a result, we are challenged to become increasingly sanctified. (2 Corinthians 7:1). We are also being transforme

Psalm 50 A Psalm by Asaph. 50:1 The Mighty One, God, Yahweh, speaks, and calls the earth from sunrise to sunset. 50:2 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth. 50:3 Our God comes, and does not keep silent. A fire devours before him. It is very stormy around him. 50:4 He calls to the heavens above, to the earth, that he may judge his people: 50:5 “Gather my saints together to me, those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.” 50:6 The heavens shall declare his righteousness, for God himself is judge. Selah. 50:7 “Hear, my people, and I will speak; Israel, and I will testify against you. I am God, your God. 50:8 I don’t rebuke you for your sacrifices. Your burnt offerings are continually before me. 50:9 I have no need for a bull from your stall, nor male goats from your pens. 50:10 For every animal of the forest is mine, and the livestock on a thousand hills. 50:11 I know all the birds of the mountains. The wild animals of the field are mine. 50:12 If

So Great A Salvation  Part 2 - God’s side of Salvation 29 Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. 34 Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household. Acts 16:29-34 New King James Version (NKJV) Regeneration Regeneration is the new birth, being born again, becoming a new creation. A regenerated person does not receive a new spirit or personality, but the Holy Spirit recreates the moral basis of our character, setting it free to act according to God’s will giving the desire and ability to seek and follow God. It

Wednesday Wisdom Proverbs 21 1 The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turns it where ever he will. 2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord ponders the hearts. 3 To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. 4 a high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin. 5 The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want. 6 The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death. 7 The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them; because they refuse to do judgment. 8 The way of man is perverse and strange: but as for the pure, his work is right. 9 It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house. 10 The soul of the wicked desires evil: his neighbour finds no favour in his eyes. 11 When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receives knowled

Psalm 9 9:1 I will give thanks to Yahweh with my whole heart. I will tell of all your marvelous works. 9:2 I will be glad and rejoice in you. I will sing praise to your name, O Most High. 9:3 When my enemies turn back, they stumble and perish in your presence. 9:4 For you have maintained my just cause. You sit on the throne judging righteously. 9:5 You have rebuked the nations. You have destroyed the wicked. You have blotted out their name forever and ever. 9:6 The enemy is overtaken by endless ruin. The very memory of the cities which you have overthrown has perished. 9:7 But Yahweh reigns forever. He has prepared his throne for judgment. 9:8 He will judge the world in righteousness. He will administer judgment to the peoples in uprightness. 9:9 Yahweh will also be a high tower for the oppressed; a high tower in times of trouble. 9:10 Those who know your name will put their trust in you, for you, Yahweh, have not forsaken those who seek you. 9:11 Sing praises to Yahweh, who dwells in Zion, and dec

  Paul's Conversion (Acts 9) 1 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” 5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” Acts 9:1-6 The conversion of Saul (his name was changed to Paul later) is one of the most notable in the history of the Church. Certainly within the Bible itself. Indeed the conversion of Saul/Paul, was celebrated yesterday, 25 January, in parts of the Church around the world. Luke tells us the story three times. But was Paul's conversion special

Psalm 17   17:1 Hear, Yahweh, my righteous plea; Give ear to my prayer, that doesn’t go out of deceitful lips. 17:2 Let my sentence come forth from your presence. Let your eyes look on equity. 17:3 You have proved my heart. You have visited me in the night. You have tried me, and found nothing. I have resolved that my mouth shall not disobey. 17:4 As for the works of men, by the word of your lips, I have kept myself from the ways of the violent. 17:5 My steps have held fast to your paths. My feet have not slipped. 17:6 I have called on you, for you will answer me, God. Turn your ear to me. Hear my speech. 17:7 Show your marvelous loving kindness, you who save those who take refuge by your right hand from their enemies. 17:8 Keep me as the apple of your eye. Hide me under the shadow of your wings, 17:9 from the wicked who oppress me, my deadly enemies, who surround me. 17:10 They close up their callous hearts. With their mouth they speak proudly. 17:11 They have now surrounded us in our steps. They set their e

Sermon - The First Deaconate Acts 6v1-7 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, "It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word." This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests b

Consequence 07 Jesus - The God-Man Who Suffered In this brief series called Consequences, we are looking together at 7 consequences of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Today we continue to look a bit deeper into that God-man, Jesus Christ and in particular His relevancy today in regards to suffering.~ Ever since the first time humanity sinned against God, there has been death and suffering. Suffering was not part of God’s original creation and only came in after this event. God had a plan to alleviate this. As part of this plan, throughout his ministry Jesus said that he would suffer, die and be raised back to life again. Jesus went about alleviating the suffering of people – whether from physical, mental or spiritual suffering. Quite possibly the biggest question we ask ourselves, or is asked of us by others, concerns the problem of suffering. I will start out by saying I don’t have all the answers, but I do know that I have suffered and still suffer today. I have died twice and been resuscitated twice. I

Consequence 06 Jesus - the Object of our Faith In this brief series called Consequences, we are looking together at 7 consequences of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Today we continue to look a bit deeper into that God-man, Jesus Christ! John 1:1 & 18“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning… No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known.” Why would God become a man? We see through the Cross and Resurrection of Jesus Christ that God himself has taken on the responsibility for our sins. Jesus, the Son of God, bore our sins on the cross, became sin for us, even though he was without sin. By doing this we are drawn to God in a personal way through Jesus Christ. God has shown that he loves us and wants us in a relationship with himself. Through Jesus, God has bridged the gap between the supernatural and the natural, the infinite and the finite, to show us what He is like. Jesus as G

Consequence 05 The Message 2 – The Resurrection In this brief series called Consequences, we are looking together at 7 consequences of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Today we continue to look at the message of the early church regarding this Jesus – a message which is also relevant to us today! Yesterday we looked at the Cross and today we will look at the Resurrection. 1 Corinthians 15:12-14 But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.~ Significance of the Resurrection That was the Apostle Paul, writing to the Corinthian church about the crucified Jesus having been physically raised from the dead! What significance is there in Jesus’ resurrection, that the early church afforded such great value in it as part of their message? The resurrection of Jesus Christ pro

Psalm 123 A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem. To you I do lift up my eyes, you who sit in the heavens. Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress; so our eyes look to Yahweh, our God, until he has mercy on us. Have mercy on us, Yahweh, have mercy on us, for we have endured much contempt. Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scoffing of those who are at ease, with the contempt of the proud. Tap or click here to save/download this Psalm as a MP3 file

Consequence 04 The Message 1 – The Cross   In this brief series called Consequences, we are looking together at 7 consequences of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Today we start to look at the message of the early church regarding this Jesus – a message which is also relevant to us today! This message is the Easter story – Jesus’ death and resurrection! Mark 10:45 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.’ The Problem! There is a problem in the world, which has been a problem since time almost began! That problem is sin. Sin is anything that separates humans from God, which as a consequence leads to both a spiritual and physical death (Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, Isaiah 59:2). Under the Old Testament Law or Covenant, sins were dealt with by blood sacrifices of atonement for sin (Leviticus 17:11), for without the shedding of blood there can be no remission of sin (Hebrews 9:22). A blood sacrifice was God's way of dealing with sin. These blood sac